§ 66. Ms. Harmanasked the Attorney-General whether Her Majesty's Government have proposals to end the conveyancing monopoly.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe Government are considering these restrictions in the light of the divergent recommendations of the two Royal Commissions for legal services in England and Wales and Scotland respectively.
§ Ms. HarmanDoes the Solicitor-General agree chat although having a monopoly for conveyancing is in the interests of solicitors, it is not in the interests of those who want to buy or sell land? Should not the Government abolish the conveyancing monopoly? Do not the Government have an excellent opportunity to do that in the shape of the Bill proposing the abolition of the conveyancing monopoly which has been presented by my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell)? Will the Government support that Bill?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe problem is always to see how competition can best be encouraged without jeopardising consumer protection. Although the hon. Lady's view, which she has expressed with her usual forceful eloquence, can be held, the contrary view can also respectfully be held. The Government have not yet concluded their examination of the problem.