§
4 Clause 5, page 7, line 37, at end insert—
(" (5) After that subsection there shall be inserted—
(4) A local weights and measures authority may institute proceedings for an offence under this section ".").
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, this amendment will enable local trading standards departments to enforce the conveyancing restrictions contained in Section 22 of the Solicitors Act 1974. It is in response to concern which was expressed both in this House by the noble Lord, Lord Foot—I do not see him here this afternoon—and in another place about the unsatisfactory nature of existing arrangements for enforcing conveyancing restrictions in Section 22 of the Solicitors Act. The amendment accordingly enables trading standards departments to assume responsibility in place of the somewhat haphazard arrangements whereby it is left to the Law Society to institute proceedings. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 4.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Lord Elwyn-JonesMy Lords, it would seem appropriate that a public authority should have that responsibility and not the Law Society itself.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.