§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the criticism of the Inns of Court made by the Attorney General, they will take steps to establish a common system of legal education that would facilitate interchange between barristers and solicitors.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT KILMUIR)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no responsibility for legal education in England but I know that considerable work has been done by the Bar Council, the Law Society and the Council of Legal Education on the subject of a common system of legal education and I hope that that work will soon come to fruition. I am sure that this matter is better left to the two branches of the legal profession to deal with.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, while being moderately thankful for that Answer, may I ask the noble and learned Viscount whether his attention has been drawn to the recent Presidential address of the President of the Law Society, in which he advocated a common system of legal education, and whether he has also considered the criticisms of his right honourable and learned friend in another place, who has stated that the Inns of Court will not get on with the necessary work in this sphere and that nothing is being done by them? In these circumstances, is it not time that the Government took some action in this field?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the answer to the first part of the noble Lord's question is, yes; and I have considered the suggestions with great interest. Secondly, I am sure that the Inns will carefully consider the remarks made by my right honourable and learned friend the Attorney General, but I should point out to the noble Lord that my right honourable and learned friend was speaking as head of the Bar and not in his ministerial capacity. The answer to the third point is, as I said, that I still have great hopes of progress being made, and although, as I said further, it is no business of mine, if anyone wishes my help, it is at his service.