§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that there have been complaints by members of the public who claim they have sustained injustice in consequence of maladministration in connection with actions by professional bodies operating under Royal Charter, persons so aggrieved having no remedy by way of proceedings in any court of law; and whether Her Majesty's Government consider that such complaints might be suitable for reference to the proposed Parliamentary Commissioner.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am aware that complaints of this sort are made from time to time, but, as I told the noble Lord in reply to a similar Question on July 5, the Parliamentary 2 Commissioner's task will be to investigate complaints made against Government Departments, not against professional bodies of the sort to which the noble Lord refers.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, I should like to ask him a short supplementary question. Is he aware that, whereas the Law Society, for example, are not allowed to adjudicate in matters arising re complaints concerning their own members, this does not apply to, say, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, who are allowed to quash complaints made against their own members? If I can supply the noble Lord with cases, will he entertain looking into the matter?
§ LORD SHEPHERDCertainly, my Lords. If the noble Lord has any information which he cares to give me I shall be very happy to consider it and convey it to the appropriate department. The Law Society has a disciplinary committee which is an independent body set up by the Master of the Rolls. I am advised that any individual who may have a complaint against a member of that Society, or against a member of any other organisation under Royal Charter, may take the case to a' court of law.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, I think I am right in saying that this does not apply, for example, to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. If I may, I will convey this information to the noble Lord.
§ LORD SHEPHERDCertainly. Many organisations are concerned—for instance, the Institute of Directors. I do not know what the Government can do about the Institute protecting directors from time to time.