§ Lord McCarthyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action has been taken to address the problems faced by the Law Society and the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors about the handling of complaints. [HL3905]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The performance in the handling of complaints by the Law Society has been deteriorating to an unacceptable level. The Government have therefore amended the Access to Justice Bill to allow for a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner to be appointed. The Commissioner would oversee the handling of complaints by the legal professional bodies. I hope not to have to appoint a Commissioner, but will do so if the situation does not improve significantly.
I have written to Robert Sayer, the President of the Law Society, to set down the improvements in performance by the Law Society and the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors that could persuade the Government that it was unnecessary to introduce the Commissioner. I have arranged for copies of my letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.