§ Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the large number of public Bills announced by the Government, it is proposed to increase the staff of the Parliamentary draftsman: and, if not, whether he will state what steps he is taking to guard against the break down of that Department?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIn view of the continually increasing volume of work falling to the Parliamentary Counsel's Office, the organisation and staff of the office were reviewed in the early part of this year, and additional help provided. Owing to the highly specialised character of the work done by the Parliamentary Counsel and the constant need of a long period of training and experience within the office, the benefit of these changes will not be felt to the full for some considerable time, but I have no reason to anticipate that the office, as strengthened, will be unable to cope with the work which it will be called upon to perform in the near future, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the matter will be kept under close review.