To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of firms of solicitors closing over the last three years; and if she will make a statement. (114176)

I understand from the Law Society that 5,657 firms of solicitors have closed in the last three years. No information is available on the reasons for closure. The type of practices that have closed in the period include: partnerships; sole practitioners; multi national practices; incorporated limited liability partnerships; and foreign law practices.

However, this figure should be balanced against the number of new firms that have been established in the last three years, which is 6,093.