§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will state the number of cases in 1967 to date which have been submitted to the Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the Solicitors' (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 1957; in how many of these cases solicitors were found to be guilty, and the number of cases submitted to the Committee which have arisen out of complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct other than charges of embezzlement or failure to comply with the Solicitors' Accounts Rules 1945–59.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, I am informed that during the current year to date 46 applications from all sources against solicitors have been submitted to the Disciplinary Committee constituted under the Solicitors Act 1957. Of these 46 cases 21 were not concerned with defalcation or breaches of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules. I understand that decisions have so far been given in 25 cases, and that in 17 the complaints were found to be justified.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord for that Answer. I do not wish to put a supplementary question.
§ LORD FOLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been called to the statement by Sir Thomas Lund that the Law Society receive approximately ten thousand complaints each 1005 year concerning the conduct of solicitors; and whether they will state the number of cases in 1967 to date where the Law Society themselves have instituted proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the Solicitors' (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 1957, the number of instances in such circumstances where solicitors have been acquitted; and the number of such cases pending.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the statement to which I believe the noble Lord refers mentions the receipt by the Law Society of roughly 200 complaints a week but adds that the vast majority are from people who appear to be mentally unbalanced or from clients seeking information about legal procedure or practice. I am informed that during the current year to date the Law Society have made 37 applications against solicitors to the Disciplinary Committee; that in no case in which the findings and order have been pronounced has a solicitor been exonerated, and that the results of the remaining 19 applications are not yet known.