Compensation Bill [Lords]

That may be so, but the hon. Gentleman has been a good advocate on the company’s behalf tonight. I am here as an advocate for my constituents, many of whom—poor and vulnerable individuals—have been ripped off by unscrupulous solicitors using sharp practices in a firm that should know better. If the hon. Gentleman wants to be associated with that firm of solicitors, he should feel free to be so, but I have no such wish. I support what the Government are doing with the code of conduct. It is a sensible way of not overburdening trade unions with legislation. My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw pointed out that trade unions are already regulated by the certification officer, and members can have redress following complaints to the certification officer about the way in which the organisation operates. I think that that is right, but I also think there are problems with the draft code. For instance, the definition of ““members”” should be tightened up. The Durham NUM’s scam was to enlist people as associate members. Those people have no legal right to complain to the certification officer, because they are not actually members—and let me point out to the hon. Member for Hendon that that was done with the connivance of Thompsons. ““Members”” must mean ““members”” as defined in the Act that covers the certification officer. That may close the loophole. But if ““members”” means associate members, that should be clarified in the code. Another issue that needs to be clarified is the status of retired members. They may not still be making contributions, but I think that they should still be covered because of their years of contribution and their association.