§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will conduct an inquiry into the actions of Chambers and Co. solicitors of Brighouse, west Yorkshire, in relation to the case of Mrs. Daphne Turner of Huddersfield and the recommendations of the legal services ombudsman; [7417]
(2) what powers he has to ensure that compensation recommended by the legal services ombudsman is paid. [7317]
1203W
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe office of the legal services ombudsman is statutorily independent from the Government and I have no powers to intervene in individual cases. The ombudsman's powers to make recommendations in his reports are set out in section 23 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. Should any persons fail to comply with a recommendation, they are required to publicise that failure. Should they not do so, the ombudsman may publicise the matter.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will review legislation establishing the legal services ombudsman, with particular reference to circumstances in which solicitors fail to carry out his recommendations; [7315]
(2) if he will meet the Law Society to discuss cases in which solicitors ignore recommendations from the legal services ombudsman for compensation. [7318]
§ Mr. EvansMy Department will carry out its quinquennial review of the office of the legal services ombudsman next year. I do not see any need for an earlier review of this aspect of the legislation or for a discussion on it with the Law Society.