HC Deb 17 July 2002 vol 389 cc412-3W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Law Society in handling complaints with reference to the reserve powers that are contained in the Access to Justice Act 1999. [70243]

Ms Rosie Winterton

We continue to have concerns about the Law Society's performance in complaints handling, particularly in relation to the quality of casework. The Lord Chancellor has therefore asked the Legal Services Ombudsman to maintain increased oversight of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, the Law Society's complaints handling wing. He has warned that unless

speedy and substantive improvements are made across the board, he will not hesitate to implement his reserve powers, which allow for the establishment of a Legal. Services Complaints Commissioner.

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