§ Mr. Bottomleyasked the Prime Minister what decision has been taken about the recommendations of the Plowden Committee on the Diplomatic Service for the integration of the legal departments of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office; and whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements will exist for the encouragement of contacts between legal officers in the various Commonwealth Governments.
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§ The Prime MinisterIn principle the Government have accepted the Plowden Committee's recommendation that the Diplomatic Service should have a unified Legal Section with a structure of its own and common recruitment; but how and when unification of the present legal staffs can best be carried out is still under consideration. Among the factors being considered is the need to maintain adequate arrangements for the encouragement of contacts between legal officers in various Commonwealth Governments.