Derek McDowell (Labour)

My reluctance to speak to the amendment arose from a certain diffidence in proposing that an organisation of which I am a member should be represented on the board. Nevertheless, the case in favour of doing so stands up. Irrespective of whether we like it, members of the Law Society and the Bar Council have significant experience of the type of business which will be dealt with by the new board. In addition, their perspective, namely, the rights of claimants, would not necessarily be shared by everybody else on the board. It is correct and reasonable, therefore, to expect that perspective to be reflected on the board.