HL Deb 24 February 1976 vol 368 c684

5.45 p.m.

Report received.

Clause 7 [Investigation by lay observer of Society's treatment of complaints]:

The Earl of SELKIRKmoved Amendment No. 1:

Page 5, line 17, at end insert— (" (12) In part 3 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (offices disqualifying for membership) there shall be inserted at the appropriate place in alphabetical order the entry "lay observer appointed under section 7 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1976".").

The noble Earl said: My Lords, under Clause 7 the Secretary of State is entitled to appoint a lay person to see that the Society's treatment of complaints from their clients is satisfactory. This Amendment is in common form and does no more than say that such appointment cannot be a Member of the House of Commons. The lay observer under Clause 7 of this Bill is an addition to the list of those appointments not available to Members of the House of Commons. I beg to move.

Clause 26 [Citation and construction]:

The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, this Amendment is consequential to the Amendment I have just moved. I beg to move.

Amendment moved—

Page 12, line 37, at end insert— ("(2) This Act except in so far as it relates to the amendment of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 extends to Scotland only".)—(The Earl of Selkirk.)