Legal Services Bill [Lords]

I am anxious to follow the hon. Gentleman’s point because he speaks as though public input into the costs and the problem of firms bearing the cost of vexatious litigants with nuisance applications are almost the same thing. As configured before the Lords amendment, the LSB will have discretion—it will no doubt exercise it properly, subject to judicial review—over whether it awards costs against the firm. That point was satisfactory before the amendment. The hon. Gentleman raises a different issue about whether the public should pay for the ongoing running costs, and it is intended that such costs should be met from a levy and from costs per case from the firm.