Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Bar Standards Board 'Consultation on the Proposed Amendments to the Equality Rules', published on 3 September, proposing creating a duty on all barristers to promote equality, diversity and inclusion when practising or otherwise providing legal services; and of the effect on the Government Legal Service.

The Government has not made any assessment of the Bar Standards Board consultation paper published on 3 September; and the effect on the Government Legal Service. The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of Government. Statutory responsibility for encouraging a diverse legal profession sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board.