HL Deb 27 February 1902 vol 103 cc1257-8

[SECOND READING.]

Order of the day for the Second Reading read.

LORD ALVERSTONE

My Lords, I shall detain your Lordships but a few moments in moving the Second Reading of this Bill. It is in the same words as the measure which passed this House last year. The Bill gives a discretion to the Law Society to allow or disallow a solicitor who is an undischarged bankrupt to take out his certificate, and it gives the solicitor a right of appeal to the Master of the Rolls. There is a strong reason for passing the Bill the Court of Appeal having decided that at present no such discretion can be exercised. I think your Lordships will agree that it is advisable that in certain cases there should be power to prevent an undischarged bankrupt from continuing his practice as a solicitor. I beg to move the Second Reading of the Bill.

Bill read 2a (according to order), and committed to a Committee of the whole House.