§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement of the Government's reasons for agreeing to the National Board for Prices and Incomes' proposals to increase solicitors' fees for county court work by 58 per cent. as from 9th March, 1970, and at the same time refusing to implement the report's proposal for a 6 per cent. reduction in conveyancing fees until the summer of 1971; and whether the 58 per cent. increase proposed will be tied to any form of productivity agreement.
The Attorney-GeneralThe board considered the need to improve solicitors' remuneration for county court work to be urgent. The scales had remained unchanged since 1955. Their recommendations, to which effect has now been given, were designed to encourage a degree of concentration on county court work. Detailed proposals, giving effect to the board's recommendations on conveyancing, are being formulated for submission to the statutory committee which prescribes solicitors' remuneration in respect of non-contentious business. The committee should be able to consider them in the early summer. There is no intention of deferring this matter to the summer of 1971.