To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the Compensation Bill on collective conditional fee arrangements.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the Compensation Bill on collective conditional fee arrangements.

I am grateful to the Minister for those assurances. In the light of what she has said, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 103 not moved.]

I am grateful to the Minister for those assurances. In the light of what she has said, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 103 not moved.]

I am very grateful that we have someone as clever as the noble Viscount, who understands some of these issues. The issue of ““professional”” in the context that we were discussing in our previous debate is about trying to differentiate between what someone does in their working life and outside, and...

I am very grateful that we have someone as clever as the noble Viscount, who understands some of these issues. The issue of ““professional”” in the context that we were discussing in our previous debate is about trying to differentiate between what someone does in their working life and outside, and...

We have been treated to an avalanche of promises. One can hardly wait for them to be realised, as we are sure they will, knowing the Minister’s track record. Against that background, I have no hesitation in seeking to withdraw Amendment No. 93. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

We have been treated to an avalanche of promises. One can hardly wait for them to be realised, as we are sure they will, knowing the Minister’s track record. Against that background, I have no hesitation in seeking to withdraw Amendment No. 93. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The history of professions goes back to 1700 and beyond. Mechanical engineers, for instance, are different because they are in a self-regulated profession and arrival is by examination. Botanists and all kinds of other people are members of professional bodies. There is no government regulation; there is an entirely self-regulated arrival. That...

The history of professions goes back to 1700 and beyond. Mechanical engineers, for instance, are different because they are in a self-regulated profession and arrival is by examination. Botanists and all kinds of other people are members of professional bodies. There is no government regulation; there is an entirely self-regulated arrival. That...

moved Amendments Nos. 90 to 91:"Page 9, line 29, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””""Page 9, line 45, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””" On Question, amendments agreed to. [Amendment No. 92 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

moved Amendments Nos. 90 to 91:"Page 9, line 29, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””""Page 9, line 45, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””" On Question, amendments agreed to. [Amendment No. 92 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

I very much welcome what the Minister said, but perhaps I may press her on two further points. First, on referral fees, there is a great deal of concern over what are colloquially known as ““kick-backs”” between the claims management company, solicitors, doctors, other medical professionals and so on. I would hope that...

I very much welcome what the Minister said, but perhaps I may press her on two further points. First, on referral fees, there is a great deal of concern over what are colloquially known as ““kick-backs”” between the claims management company, solicitors, doctors, other medical professionals and so on. I would hope that...

I respond in the context of the report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. The noble Lord, Lord Hunt, will recognise that I take the committee’s recommendations very seriously. I have undertaken to ensure that we consider them properly and I will bring forward appropriate amendments on Report. As I say, I frame my remarks...

I respond in the context of the report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. The noble Lord, Lord Hunt, will recognise that I take the committee’s recommendations very seriously. I have undertaken to ensure that we consider them properly and I will bring forward appropriate amendments on Report. As I say, I frame my remarks...

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 8, line 26, leave out ““permit or””" The noble Lord said: Amendments Nos. 82 and 85 are effectively a variation on the ““may””/““shall”” theme, in that they delete ““permit or”” to leave only ““require””, thereby toughening up a requirement. Amendments Nos. 83 and 84 highlight another closely related point on the nature of the...

moved Amendment No. 82:"Page 8, line 26, leave out ““permit or””" The noble Lord said: Amendments Nos. 82 and 85 are effectively a variation on the ““may””/““shall”” theme, in that they delete ““permit or”” to leave only ““require””, thereby toughening up a requirement. Amendments Nos. 83 and 84 highlight another closely related point on the nature of the...

moved Amendment No. 78:"Page 8, line 21, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””" On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 79 to 81 not moved.]

moved Amendment No. 78:"Page 8, line 21, leave out ““may”” and insert ““shall””" On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 79 to 81 not moved.]

moved Amendment No. 88:"Page 9, line 27, leave out ““may enable”” and insert ““shall require””" On Question, amendment agreed to.

moved Amendment No. 88:"Page 9, line 27, leave out ““may enable”” and insert ““shall require””" On Question, amendment agreed to.

I am grateful to the Minister for what she has said. Looking back on the many sittings of this Committee, I thank the noble Baroness for the many commitments that she has given. We have been greatly reassured by the way in which she has set about dealing with some longstanding problems...

I am grateful to the Minister for what she has said. Looking back on the many sittings of this Committee, I thank the noble Baroness for the many commitments that she has given. We have been greatly reassured by the way in which she has set about dealing with some longstanding problems...

Before the noble Baroness moves on to the next amendment, on advertising, I recall that the Better Regulation Task Force report instanced on page 24 an advertisement headed, ““Did the doctor or nurse make you worse?””. I am delighted to see that the Minister has a copy in front of her. The Arculus report...

Before the noble Baroness moves on to the next amendment, on advertising, I recall that the Better Regulation Task Force report instanced on page 24 an advertisement headed, ““Did the doctor or nurse make you worse?””. I am delighted to see that the Minister has a copy in front of her. The Arculus report...

moved Amendment No. 94:"Page 10, line 11, at end insert—" ““(1)   Regulations shall make, or shall require the Regulator to make, provision about the advertising standards required of an authorised person. (2)   Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) shall in particular provide that— (a)   advertising should be compliant with the codes of practice about professional conduct; (b)   advertising must...

moved Amendment No. 94:"Page 10, line 11, at end insert—" ““(1)   Regulations shall make, or shall require the Regulator to make, provision about the advertising standards required of an authorised person. (2)   Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) shall in particular provide that— (a)   advertising should be compliant with the codes of practice about professional conduct; (b)   advertising must...

I am grateful to the noble Viscount; that is a good point. My understanding is that certain professions carry with them certain standards and rules that apply in a broader context than simply the work that one does. The critical factor in this context would be how a person operated in...

I am grateful to the noble Viscount; that is a good point. My understanding is that certain professions carry with them certain standards and rules that apply in a broader context than simply the work that one does. The critical factor in this context would be how a person operated in...

The word ““professional”” must have been tested in the courts many times. I would just like to be sure that we do not assume that it is a term of art that can be used in different contexts and different ways. In court, what does it actually mean? Does it mean...

The word ““professional”” must have been tested in the courts many times. I would just like to be sure that we do not assume that it is a term of art that can be used in different contexts and different ways. In court, what does it actually mean? Does it mean...

Once again, I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising an important point. I agree with the spirit of the amendment; once again, I am simply debating where best to deal with the matter. [The Sitting was suspended for a Division in the House from 3.49 to 3.57 pm.]

Once again, I am grateful to the noble Lord for raising an important point. I agree with the spirit of the amendment; once again, I am simply debating where best to deal with the matter. [The Sitting was suspended for a Division in the House from 3.49 to 3.57 pm.]

moved Amendment No. 93:"Page 10, line 11, at end insert—" ““(1)   Regulations shall make, or shall require the Regulator to make, provision about the fees charged by an authorised person for the provision of claims management services. (2)   Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) shall in particular provide that— (a)   any fee to be charged shall be clearly...

moved Amendment No. 93:"Page 10, line 11, at end insert—" ““(1)   Regulations shall make, or shall require the Regulator to make, provision about the fees charged by an authorised person for the provision of claims management services. (2)   Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) shall in particular provide that— (a)   any fee to be charged shall be clearly...

I started to say to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, that I agree with the spirit of the amendment and that we are looking to see where best to deal with this. The noble Lord rightly said that fees charged for claims management services could impact significantly on the consumer and that that...

I started to say to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, that I agree with the spirit of the amendment and that we are looking to see where best to deal with this. The noble Lord rightly said that fees charged for claims management services could impact significantly on the consumer and that that...

I am grateful to the noble Lord. On his second point, one of the issues that we have discussed on a number of occasions both at Second Reading and in Committee is that this Bill is but a part of a series of different work streams that are going on around...

I am grateful to the noble Lord. On his second point, one of the issues that we have discussed on a number of occasions both at Second Reading and in Committee is that this Bill is but a part of a series of different work streams that are going on around...