Legal Services Bill [HL]

My Lords, I, too, express great appreciation and support of the amendment and the speech by the noble Lord, Lord Neill, who has, even at this late stage, brought new and forceful arguments to a debate that we have had before. As we have had it before, I have nothing new to add, so I will be brief. The amendment, to which my name is added, may appeal to the Government more than my earlier attempt to suggest that Part 5 should not be made operative prior to the conduct of a pilot scheme to test whether the fears about access to justice are real. For the reason just given by the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, the circumstances will vary from one part to another. The proposal of the noble Lord, Lord Neill—that careful studies should be made available before the implementation of Part 5—is probably the better route. Furthermore, it is clear that it need not hold up the Government’s desire to give effect to Part 5, since the studies could be put in hand virtually immediately and would no doubt greatly enhance our understanding of what is at risk and how best to avoid any adverse consequences for licensing alternative business structures.