'Tesco law' plan under fire

PROPOSALS that could see Scottish legal services operated by banks or supermarkets are "unpalatable" and will erode access to justice, the Unite trade union has warned.

In submissions to the Scottish Parliament's justice committee, the union decried plans in the Legal Services Bill to allow non-lawyers to operate legal firms, a move known as "Tesco law".

Ahead of an appearance before the committee yesterday, the union warned in its submission: "The threat of multi-national companies such as banks or supermarkets influencing legal the provision and scope of legal services is unpalatable."

And it added: "Put simply, the bill is a further erosion of our fundamental right to access to justice."