§ 36. Mr. Hendersonasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether his Department is informed of complaints made to the Law Society of Scotland about the conduct of solicitors and the results of these complaints.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandNo, Sir.
§ Mr. HendersonIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that the response by the Law Society of Scotland to complaints made to it does not give the public great confidence that complaints are treated seriously?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI am aware of the public concern, but it is a matter for the Law Society of Scotland, not for me. The Royal Commission has made certain recommendations, which all concerned will consider. As a general principle, it is in the interests of each profession to ensure that its procedures of inquiry give public confidence that any defalcations or mistakes are immediately and properly investigated.
Mr. Ron BrownIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware of the public anxiety about the legal closed shop? What do the Government plan to do about it?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI shall explain to the hon. Gentleman, whether or not he has his hands in his pockets. Closed shops in trade unions are intended to protect their members against the public. In the legal profession they are intended to protect the public against their members.
§ Mr. McQuarrieWhen complaints are received by the Law Society of Scotland, will my hon. and learned Friend take into consideration the fact that when a person is appealing for money due and a defalcation by a solicitor is involved, the complainant should be entitled not only to the money due but to the expenses 555 that he has incurred in putting his case to the Law Society?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe question of expenses is a thorny one when talking of complaining against any organisation. I regret that it has been the habit of the Scots, in order to protect their reputation for canniness in the expenditure of money, not to give expenses to people who lose.