Thursday 04 July 2013 by Rachel Rothwell

Lord Young of Graffham turned down an offer to meet with the solicitors' regulator in advance of his report on health and safety and the 'compensation culture', the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.

The SRA said it had 'offered to engage' with Young during the research phase of his report, but the offer was 'not taken up'.

Young's review, which is expected to be published next week, will contain proposals to restrict personal injury advertising, as well as other ideas aimed at addressing what has been termed the 'compensation culture'.

Young (pictured) told the Conservative party conference this week that he was 'ashamed' of some personal injury solicitors in respect of how they advertise their services, which in some cases he claimed amounted to 'incitement to litigate'.

In a report to the SRA board, the regulator's chief executive Antony Townsend said: 'The SRA offered to engage with Lord Young during the research phase of the report in the summer but this offer was not taken up.

'It is understood that the report is likely to raise important issues relating to access to justice; the proper administration of justice and the behaviour of lawyers.

'These are key concerns for us in our work in setting and upholding the right standards in the interests of clients and in the general public interest.

'It will be important that we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice as we formulate our response to Lord Young's report.'