THE SCOTTISH CONVEYANCING AND EXECUTRY SERVICES BOARD (Hansard, 16 October 1990)

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
I beg to move amendment No. 21, in page 18, line 31, leave out 'providing such services in the course of practising as solicitors'.

§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Harold Walker)
With this we may take Government amendments Nos. 22, 34 and 99.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The amendments are intended to deal with the concerns expressed by a number of hon. Members in Committee about the demarcation of regulatory responsibilities between the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board and the Law Society. The hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) and the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) both spoke eloquently on this topic. I hope that they will agree that the amendments make it absolutely clear that the jurisdiction of the board does not extend to solicitors, who will be regulated by the Law Society alone. It will not be possible for a solicitor to register as a qualified conveyancer or an executry practitioner without first having had his name removed from the roll of solicitors. I believe that the amendments clarify the position.

§ Mr. Dewar
I welcome that. There was considerable concern in Committee about the possible overlap when someone was both a solicitor and an independent qualified conveyancer. There was a feeling that there might be differences in the rules and regulations and problems about jurisdiction.
As I understand the import of this group of amendments, the conveyancing board will look after the qualified conveyancers and the Law Society will rule supreme with solicitors. The two cannot be combined. That seems a sensible improvement on the rather confused situation that could potentially have existed. I thank the Minister for his efforts.