§ Lord Acknerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have decided to accept or reject the advice of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct given (pursuant to the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990) on 21st June 1995 to the effect that the Law Society's application for authorisation to grant extended rights of audience in the High Courts to employed solicitors would he incompatible with the proper and efficient administration of justice and should therefore not he approved; and if a decision has not yet been taken on this matter when they expect to make one.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern):The application by the Law Society to he authorised to grant rights of audience in the higher courts to employed solicitors is being considered in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Courts and Legal Services 101WA Act 1990. Schedule 4 to the Act stipulates that such applications are made to me, as Lord Chancellor, and that I am then required to seek the advice of both my Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct and the Director General of Fair Trading, before reaching a decision with the four designated judges (the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, the President of the Family Division and the Vice-Chancellor) on whether to approve the application. Both sets of advice have now been received and arc being considered. An announcement of the decision will he made in due course.