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Compensation Bill [Lords]

As someone who was a full-time trade union officer for 13 years, I am fully aware of the vital work that trade unions have done—not just their daily representation of their members in the workplace, but their work in the context of test cases—and I am afraid that I will take no lectures from former solicitors about trade union principles. The hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) quoted me as saying in Committee that if trade unions acted as claims handlers, they should be treated as such. My view on that has not changed, but I support the Government’s proposals relating to the code of conduct. Under those proposals trade unions will be exempt if they observe the code, but if they fail to do so they will be covered by regulation and subject to the same restrictions, penalties and scrutiny—and under the same spotlight—as rogue claims handlers. As I have said, I fully recognise the value of the work done by trade unions. My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) mentioned a case to which I too will refer. Some firms of solicitors, including Thompsons—for which the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) used to work—