HL Deb 13 February 1958 vol 207 cc722-3

Read 3a (according to Order).

Clause 13 [Provisions as to accountant's certificates]:

LORD KEITH OF AVONHOLM moved, in subsection (2), to leave out paragraph (c). The noble Lord said: My Lords, I regret that at this stage I should have an Amendment to move on this Bill. That is entirely due to a last-minute intervention of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, and it relates to the accountant's certificate clause in the Bill, Clause 13. The Institute seems to fear lest subsection 2 (c) of the Bill may involve a member of the Institute in some breach of professional etiquette or professional discipline. They think that it will authorise the Law Society of Scotland to employ an accountant and charge for the accountant's services, and they feel that that would not be in accordance with the traditions of their profession. For my part, I think that the Institute has been unduly apprehensive, but the matter has been met by the Law Society's agreeing to drop this offending provision. I beg to move.

Amendment moved— Page 7, line 2, leave out from beginning to end of line 9.—(Lord Keith of Avonholm.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Bill passed and sent to the Commons.