Legal Services Bill [Lords]

First, may I reiterate that I am happy to accept amendments (a) and (b) to Government amendments No. 93, which were tabled by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome. I recognised the force of the argument expressed both in Committee and in the other place that if someone is entirely innocent, it is quite unreasonable to expect them to pay costs. However, they must be able to show—and the office for legal complaints must be able to see—that the in-house complaints system is robust, and has been followed assiduously. On that basis, I am happy to accept the amendments. May I tell my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) that Government amendment No. 97 was tabled as a result of his good work and because of his remarks in Committee? I am pleased, too, to tell the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk that assistance will be available. The Bar and the Bar Standards Board put the case very strongly. While complaints handling should be seen to be independent of the legal profession, we did not want to lose the board's expertise, and the discussions over the summer have enabled us to table an amendment that is satisfactory to all, and keeps consumers and consumer protection paramount. My hon. Friend the Member for North Durham spoke about increasing the limit on compensation. I hope he accepts that the Government amendment that raises the limit from £20,000 to £30,000 provides for a 50 per cent. increase, excluding interest, which is a step forward. He will be aware that the board can, virtually on day one if it so chooses, consider whether the limit ought to be further increased. I have suggested that it should consider the limit annually, and that that figure should be included in its annual report to Parliament so that we know, on consumers' behalf, whether or not it thinks the limit is adequate.