HL Deb 12 November 2003 vol 654 c1388

15 Clause 101, page 55, line 23, leave out subsection (3) and insert— (3) For subsection (1) substitute— (1) The Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may appoint as Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court a person who is—

  1. (a) solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least 7 years' standing, or
  2. (b)a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least 7 years' standing.""

Lord Filkin

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 15. The amendment was tabled in Committee in the Commons by the honourable Member for Surrey Heath and was withdrawn for technical reasons. It was subsequently tabled again on Report in the Commons, during which it was welcomed. The amendment would allow barristers as well as solicitors to be appointed as the Official Solicitor of Northern Ireland and would bring the eligibility criteria for that post in line with those for the Official Solicitor in England and Wales. For those reasons, we are happy to support the amendment as proposed, but subsequently developed.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 15.—(Lord Filkin.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.