§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the shortage of Parliamentary draftsmen; what estimate he has made of the effect of such shortage on the legislative programme; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. MacDermotThe shortage of draftsmen in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is prospective rather than immediate. The numbers now in post are sufficient for the purposes of the current legislative programme. But in order to provide for the future, and to increase the number of draftsmen available for other purposes, including the Law Commission, vacancies in the grade of Assistant Counsel are now being advertised.
As regards Scotland there is a vacancy for one Assistant Parliamentary Draftsman. It is hoped that nevertheless it will be possible to fulfil the current legislative programme. Efforts are being made to fill the vacancy, and when that vacancy 57W has been filled the need for further recruitment for other purposes will be considered.