§ 36. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the extent of restrictive practices in the legal profession. [41292]
§ Mr. HoonThe Government are opposed to restrictive practices which cannot be justified in the public interest. The legal profession is independent and self-regulating, and is responsible, in the first instance, for the rules governing the profession; but it is the duty of the relevant professional bodies to regulate their members in the public interest. As the Lord Chancellor made clear, on 24 February 1998,Official Report, columns 555–57, he is looking at the restrictions on who may exercise rights of audience in the courts, and he intends to bring proposals forward, in due course.
One change to those who may exercise rights of audience has already been made. The Institute of Legal Executives was last month authorised to grant rights of audience to suitably qualified Fellows. It has thereby joined the Bar Council and the Law Society in being empowered to grant rights of audience in appropriate courts.