Vol. 397 No. 4
20 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the report on restrictive practices in the legal profession will be published, having regard to his recent comments in relation to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will introduce legislation to end restrictive practices in the legal profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 38 together.
I intend to publish the report of the Fair Trade Commission on the legal profession as soon as possible.
The Fair Trade Commission report is a lengthy one — running to almost 700 pages — and it makes recommendations that would, if accepted, not only require amendments to a number of existing statutes but might also involve completely new legislation.
Clearly such a complex of issues cannot be disposed of lightly or quickly. I consider it desirable that the contents of the report be publicly available while examination of the report proceeds. It may well be that the responses to the report will assist the process of examination and improve the quality of decisions that will eventually be taken by me and the Government. I will, as is usual in such cases, be presenting the report to Government before it is published.
In so far as the introduction of legislation is concerned, I informed this House on 15 February 1990, that when all the reports of the Fair Trade Commission's wide ranging study into the rendering of certain professional and analogous services are to hand, I will then be in a position to take whatever action, including introducing legislation, is found to be necessary. I am awaiting a report on the commission's study on architects, surveyors, auctioneers and estate agents. When this report has been received I will then be in a position to take whatever action I deem to be necessary.
