Lord Carlile of Berriewasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the performance by the Law Commission of its statutory functions and with the progress towards legislation on the commission's reports. [HL94]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The Government recognise the value of the contribution to law reform made by the Law Commission. Where implementing Law Commission reports requires legislation, it is necessary for Law Commission Bills to be considered in the context of the Government's legislative programme as a whole. David Lock MP, one of my Parliamentary Secretaries, will chair a Committee of Ministers whose role is to develop a greater alignment between the Law Commission's programme of work and the Government's priorities for legislation, and to consider the way forward on outstanding Law Commission reports. Meanwhile, the Government continue to bring forward Law Commission Bills when parliamentary time permits. The Government have successfully legislated on two Law Commission reports this year: the Trustee Delegation Act 1999 and the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Another Law Commission Bill, the Trustee Bill, forms part of the Government's current programme.