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'(5A) Before appointing persons to be members of the Board in pursuance of either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (5) above, the Secretary of State shall consult with the professional body mentioned in that paragraph.'.
§ Lord Cameron of LochbroomMy Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3.
This amendment fulfils an undertaking which I gave in your Lordships' House on Third Reading. It provides on the face of the Bill that the Secretary of State should consult the Law Society and the Faculty of Advocates on appointments to the places on the board reserved for solicitors and advocates respectively. That formalises what would have been the procedure adopted by the Secretary of State in any case. The faculty and the Law Society have already been consulted on the first advocate and solicitor members of the board. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(Lord Cameron of Lochbroom.)
The Earl of SelkirkMy Lords, the amendment is valuable and important. I am sure that my noble and learned friend realises that the Bill's success will depend upon the personnel on the board. It would be foolish if the Secretary of State had not consulted. He obviously would have done so, but I think that it is right that the matter should stand four square in the Act. I am grateful to my noble friend.
§ Lord Elwyn-JonesMy Lords, I recollect the eloquent words of the noble Earl, Lord Selkirk, at an earlier stage of the Bill which I had the privilege of attending. I agree entirely with the words that have fallen from his distinguished lips.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ 7.30 p.m.