Law Society remarks on Queen's Speech

25 May 2010

Following the publication today of the Queen's Speech Law Society President Robert Heslett said:

"The Society welcomes a number of the measures set out in the Queen's Speech.

The Society, as the voice of the largest part of the legal sector, also has a unique perspective on the issues affecting justice and the fabric of society. Over the coming months we will be actively lobbying the new Government to ensure that the principles of justice, fairness - and in particular the 'rule of law' - are upheld and embedded in this new legislative program.

On the measures announced today, we are delighted to see that the Coalition will bring forward plans to introduce a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill, bring forward greater safeguards in the DNA database, protect historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury, provide safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation, introduce further regulation of CCTV and provide a new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences.

The Society will scrutinise carefully the other proposals in the Queen's Speech. We will want to work constructively with politicians from all parties to ensure that sensible reforms are carried out that avoid undesirable unintended consequences. We will be taking a particular interest in other Bills such as the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, the Parliamentary Reform Bill and the Public Bodies Bill. In relation to that Bill we will want to ensure that all the quangos in the legal sector are value for money and further the public interest in a robust fashion.

We welcome the action the Government has already taken to suspend Home Information Packs and we await further details of the permanent abolition of HIPs. We also look forward to seeing the promised proposals to ensure that the Vetting and Barring Scheme is implemented on a more common sense level.

We will also want to work very closely with the Government to ensure that the proposed fundamental review of legal aid ensures that the legal aid system is managed and funded as a frontline service, as important as health and education".

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