To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Government plan to restrict to members of the legal profession the ability to provide advice on employment law; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Government plan to restrict to members of the legal profession the ability to provide advice on employment law; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) salary and (b) pension benefits relating to electoral duties were paid to the chief executive of each local authority in each of the last five years.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) salary and (b) pension benefits relating to electoral duties were paid to the chief executive of each local authority in each of the last five years.

My right hon. and noble Friend, the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has made the following written statement in the other place today:"““Following my written statement of 13 July this year, I am now announcing further progress on my programme of work to increase the...

My right hon. and noble Friend, the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has made the following written statement in the other place today:"““Following my written statement of 13 July this year, I am now announcing further progress on my programme of work to increase the...

I entirely agree; that should be the approach. However, a very small number of complex cases will arise, and that was recognised in Scotland, as the hon. Gentleman said in an earlier intervention. In Scotland, legal aid is available only for a very small number of complex cases. The Scottish...

I entirely agree; that should be the approach. However, a very small number of complex cases will arise, and that was recognised in Scotland, as the hon. Gentleman said in an earlier intervention. In Scotland, legal aid is available only for a very small number of complex cases. The Scottish...

If the existing bodies, which receive a lot of money from the taxpayer, are performing as poorly as the hon. Gentleman suggests, what are they doing with their time?

If the existing bodies, which receive a lot of money from the taxpayer, are performing as poorly as the hon. Gentleman suggests, what are they doing with their time?

As I said earlier, the advice available for people who have suffered employment discrimination is very patchy. The equal opportunities bodies are not providing a national system of access to justice, and it is not a question of cannibalising funding for them. The point that this House must address, and...

As I said earlier, the advice available for people who have suffered employment discrimination is very patchy. The equal opportunities bodies are not providing a national system of access to justice, and it is not a question of cannibalising funding for them. The point that this House must address, and...

I am particularly grateful to my hon. Friend for his lucid presentation of his Bill. He mentions discrimination against disabled people—a problem that has long since been recognised. Does he know the views of the Disability Rights Commission on this matter, and has it expressed an opinion about his Bill?

I am particularly grateful to my hon. Friend for his lucid presentation of his Bill. He mentions discrimination against disabled people—a problem that has long since been recognised. Does he know the views of the Disability Rights Commission on this matter, and has it expressed an opinion about his Bill?

It is very new Labour.

It is very new Labour.

I am bit worried about the phrase that the hon. Lady has just used. She said that if no compensation is paid, that is all right. Surely the whole point about the phrase the ““compensation culture”” and the debate about the Bill is that, in encouraging people excessively to make...

I am bit worried about the phrase that the hon. Lady has just used. She said that if no compensation is paid, that is all right. Surely the whole point about the phrase the ““compensation culture”” and the debate about the Bill is that, in encouraging people excessively to make...

That is an excellent idea. May I suggest the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) or, even better, the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies)?

That is an excellent idea. May I suggest the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) or, even better, the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies)?

I agree with the hon. Gentleman on the research question. The Legal Services Commission does have its own independent research arm, which does a lot of work. The key is that it is independent.

I agree with the hon. Gentleman on the research question. The Legal Services Commission does have its own independent research arm, which does a lot of work. The key is that it is independent.

All my right hon. Friend’s points are well made, and he has made them rather better than I could have done. The hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North talked about making sure that we have value for money in these processes. Clause 9 talks about giving the board a...

All my right hon. Friend’s points are well made, and he has made them rather better than I could have done. The hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North talked about making sure that we have value for money in these processes. Clause 9 talks about giving the board a...

The hon. Gentleman is again perceptive and anticipates that I had noted that point as something about schedule 1 to which I wanted to draw attention. There is an even worse provision that shows that the hon. Member for Bradford, West might be guilty of discrimination, but I shall touch...

The hon. Gentleman is again perceptive and anticipates that I had noted that point as something about schedule 1 to which I wanted to draw attention. There is an even worse provision that shows that the hon. Member for Bradford, West might be guilty of discrimination, but I shall touch...

I thought that the hon. Gentleman would raise this matter when he considered the membership of the board. There is a further contradiction in paragraph 2(4) of schedule 1. Will he comment on the fact that the criteria for appointing three of the 10 individuals who will serve on the...

I thought that the hon. Gentleman would raise this matter when he considered the membership of the board. There is a further contradiction in paragraph 2(4) of schedule 1. Will he comment on the fact that the criteria for appointing three of the 10 individuals who will serve on the...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that theoretically, someone who had a disability, who was from an ethnic minority and who had also taken proceedings before the tribunal might be able to apply under all three categories?

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that theoretically, someone who had a disability, who was from an ethnic minority and who had also taken proceedings before the tribunal might be able to apply under all three categories?

Yes, but there is a more serious point here. The number of members of the board would be limited, and by statute one of the positions would have to be given to a disabled person, so if a number of people applied, there could be indirect discrimination against someone on...

Yes, but there is a more serious point here. The number of members of the board would be limited, and by statute one of the positions would have to be given to a disabled person, so if a number of people applied, there could be indirect discrimination against someone on...

If one wanted to set up such a board—which I do not—surely one would want on it people competent in administration and in ensuring that money got to the right place. The suggested constitution of the board, with people who have been aggrieved by decisions of a tribunal, and those...

If one wanted to set up such a board—which I do not—surely one would want on it people competent in administration and in ensuring that money got to the right place. The suggested constitution of the board, with people who have been aggrieved by decisions of a tribunal, and those...