Legal Services Bill [HL]

The noble Baroness has already very kindly said that she will explain the difference between the use of ““Secretary of State”” and ““Lord Chancellor””; I very much look forward to what she has to say on that subject. When the noble and learned Lords, Lord Irvine of Lairg and Lord Mackay of Clashfern, were Lord Chancellor—and, indeed, for the whole of my legal and parliamentary life—it was absolutely axiomatic that if the Government or a member of the Government sought to stray from the law, which sometimes happens, it would be made clear that, if the matter were not immediately corrected, the Lord Chancellor and the law officers would resign. There would be a constitutional crisis of massive proportions. I would like to think that that still applies. I shall listen very carefully to what the noble Baroness says in her explanation.