asked the Attorney-General how many complaints he has received in each of the last five years about the standards of service provided by solicitors and barristers.

My noble Friend and I receive many letters, relating to all aspects of the administration of justice. It is impossible, without disproportionate expenditure, to isolate those which include complaints about the standards of service provided by the legal profession.

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied with existing procedures for investigating complaints about the standards of service provided by solicitors and barristers.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, while satisfied with these procedures, is always willing to consider suggestions for their improvement.

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek powers to appoint an ombudsman to examine complaints of malfunction in the legal services and the legal profession.

No. Many such complaints are matters for the courts or disciplinary bodies. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor deals with complaints about the functioning of legal services and has appointed a lay observer under statutory powers who examines particular allegations about the Law Society's treatment of complaints against solicitors. In addition there is lay representation of the appropriate disciplinary bodies.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to provide effective remedies for consumers who have suffered as a result of incompetent legal advice.

Effective legal remedies are already available through the courts.