Minister gives guarded reaction to OSS progress

There has been some improvement at the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS), but more needs to be done to stave off action, the government warned last week.

Asked about the effectiveness of the OSS during Lord Chancellor's Department questions in the House of Commons, minister Rosie Winterton said: 'We are not satisfied that the OSS is currently working as effectively as it should.

There is some evidence of improvement, and we continue to work closely with the OSS to ensure that it continues to move towards acceptable standards overall.'

Solicitor Gary Streeter, who was an LCD minister in the last Conservative administration, called on the government to take firm action over complaints and appoint an independent regulator.

However, Ms Winterton said: 'The ideal situation would be one in which self-regulation works'.

She added: 'I can only reiterate that we are keeping a very close eye on the matter, and are not unaware of the comments that have been made [by MPs].'

Ms Winterton said the Legal Services Ombudsman is expected to issue a progress report on the OSS next month.

'Obviously, if there is not an improvement, different action will be taken,' she said.

Speaking afterwards, Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'We welcome the minister's acknowledgment of improvements at the OSS, and are keenly aware of the need to maintain progress.

Significant effort is under way to improve the time taken to turn around complaints.

An additional office with 50 caseworking staff will open in London in the spring.'