§ 57. Miss Fookes asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to appoint a legal ombudsman with power to investigate maladminstration in the provision of legal services to the public.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary deal with complaints concerning court services. The machinery for investigating complaints about the provision of services by the legal profession is a matter within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12th February.
§ Miss FookesBut is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that many people will be greatly disappointed by this? Is he aware that it is the hardest job in the world to make a case stick against a lawyer who may be incompetent or dilatory?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere are already various ways in which that can be done. There are, for example, the lay observer who deals with matters complained of against solicitors and the lay member of the disciplinary body. The Lord Chancellor himself deals with complaints about legal aid. I am not suggesting that all these matters necessarily deal with the problem raised by the hon. Lady, but the Royal Commission will be able to do so.
§ Mr. William HamiltonDoes my right hon. and learned Friend not appreciate that at a time when the ordinary citizen finds it difficult to get legal help or advice—and even when it is available it is at great expense—it is incomprehensible that a massive number of lawyers should sit in the other place deciding whether there has been a second virgin birth? Does my right hon. and learned Friend not agree that that is a complete waste of public money and legal skills, which we can ill afford?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have always known that my hon. Friend was expert at discovering paradoxes. What takes place in another place is a little removed from this Question.