§ 118 Clause 23, page 32, line 16, at end insert 'and shall state that the body have complied with the provisions of Schedule (Publication of applications under section 23) to this Act'.
§ Lord Fraser of CarmyllieMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 118.
The amendments in this group give effect to an undertaking given both at Committee and Report stage in this House. As indicated at the time, the Government see great merit in the suggestion that applications for practising rights under Clause 23 should be open to a certain degree of public consideration.
A duty is placed on the Lord President and the Secretary of State in new Clause 30 requiring them to consider any written representations they have received before granting any application for practising rights under Clause 23. As a matter of practicality, I consider that some provision is also necessary to require the body in question to advertise its application. That is so that the attention of all those with an interest, whether they be other practitioners in the area of legal services or existing clients of the body making the application, can be drawn to it and they can take the opportunity to make whatever comments they feel appropriate. Such a provision appears at paragraphs 3 and 4 of the new schedule.
In moving Amendment No. 118, I speak also to Amendments Nos. 120 and 207. Those amendments together should allow for a fully adequate level of public debate on the merits of a body's application for further practising rights.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 118.—(Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.