§ MR. LANE-FOXI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, seeing that he recently promised to do his best to remedy the inconvenience caused to Grand Committees by the absence of any Law Officer of the Crown from their discussions, and in view of the delay in the Grand Committee dealing with the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Bill, due to the absence of any legal authority competent to decide upon questions of definition and interpretation, he will now say what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. ASQUITHI am informed that it is not correct to say that any substantial inconvenience or delay has been caused in the Grand Committee referred to by the absence of a Law Officer; clerks and other officers competent to advise on points which may arise are always in attendance. It is impossible for a Law Officer to attend the Committee Stages of all Bills which are referred to Grand Committees, and it has never been regarded as their duty to do so. Whenever 1803 from the particular subject matter, either of the Bill as a whole, or of some of its clauses, serious legal difficulties are likely to arise, the Law Officers do their best to be present and give their assistance.
§ MR. LANE-FOXWill the Prime Minister ask one or more of the learned Gentlemen who sit behind him on occasion to attend these Grand Committees on behalf of the Government?
§ MR. ASQUITHI believe they do, as a matter of fact, attend.