§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support she is providing to the Law Society to facilitate the prompt reform of those solicitors practice rules identified as anti-competitive by the Director General of Fair Trading; and if she will make a statement. [66478]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonI have been asked to reply.
Reform of the solicitors practice rules and removal of anti-competitive restrictions therein are matters for the Law Society to take forward. Where there are restrictions in legislation relating to the regulation of solicitors they fall to Government to consider. As has already been announced, the Government are planning to consult before the summer break on those issues which fall to them arising from the DGFT's report.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Law Society in the past 12 months on employed solicitors advising the public, fee-sharing and referral fees; and if she will make a statement. [66477]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonI have been asked to reply.
Officials from both the Lord Chancellor's Department and from the Department of Trade and Industry have separately held meetings with the Law Society. The DTI has discussed competition issues generally. The LCD has discussed progress relating to those matters highlighted in the Director General of Fair Trading's report "Competition in Professions". The issue of employed solicitors advising the public is one of the matters to be considered in the Government's consultation paper planned for release before the summer break.