AN URGENT review is needed into the provision of legal services, according to Deputy Graham Guille. He is calling on Commerce and Employment to make lawyers its next priority, following the completion of its review of the island’s fuel market.
Such a review could compare the cost of legal services in Guernsey with other jurisdictions.
It could also possibly include research into and recommendations on whether lawyers need to be involved in transactions such as property and house transfer.
Jersey has reviewed charges for legal services since introducing a competition law.
In November, the deputy wrote to the department to advise them about changes taking place in Jersey.
‘It was being reported at that time that under the provisions of their competition law it had been noted that legal firms in Jersey were charging a fixed percentage-based fee for such services as property conveyancing,’ he said.
‘Such a practice could contravene the Jersey law as this amounted to a price ring. As all members of the Jersey profession were reportedly charging the same amount per transaction there was effectively no competition for their services.’
He applauds the department for wasting no time in getting to grips with market dominance issues in the wake of the States adopting competition legislation in July last year.
Deputy Guille has been one of the most vocal advocates of such a law and welcomes the publication of the results of the review into the hydrocarbon fuel supply and distribution chain in Guernsey.
‘While I have not yet studied the review in any great detail, the report clearly adds the welcome element of clarity to a debate on fuel pricing that has been ongoing in this island for many years,’ he said.
‘It is not so long ago that the fuel suppliers were operating a pricing mechanism that saw all retailers charging a fixed price.
‘No point the motorist shopping around - the price was the same wherever you went.
‘When the law specifically concerned with market dominance and market abuse is fully in place, the consumer will not only have a champion looking after his or her interests but also a law which will give the States powers to intervene and correct anti-competitive practices should they occur,’ said Deputy Guille.
Commerce and Employment has now placed the facts of the matter in plain sight and the consumer now has the chance to make an informed choice of how and from whom to purchase fuel, he said.
‘A benchmark is also now in place when the law comes fully into being later this year.’
Petrol retailers this week rejected allegations that they were ripping off motorists.
Fuel price latest Page 5
Article posted on 19th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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