HC Deb 15 March 1976 vol 907 cc419-20W
Mr. John Moore

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish in the Official Report details of the matters relating to legislation and legal administration in respect of which members of the Lord Chancellor's staff are located in the Palace of Westminster; if he will specify the type of circumstances in which they require to have access to the Lord Chancellor at short notice; and to what extent this situation arises from the particular constitutional position of the Lord Chancellor.

The Attorney-General

Law centres normally record only those cases which require detailed assistance. They do not maintain full records of all the enquiries which they receive, whether from callers in person or by telephone. The table which follows contains an estimate by each centre of the total number of enquiries for the period indicated, together with the recorded figure for cases needing further assistance. Because of the differences between the centres as to size of catchment area, type of work done, and the period for which figures are available, it would be misleading to give an average attendance figure.

The Attorney-General

As Speaker of the House of Lords my noble Friend requires to have his office in the Palace of Westminster, where members and officers of the House can have ready access to him. As a Minister of the Crown he must be able to consult his staff constantly, and frequently at short notice, on the business of his Department. The matters on which such consultation is necessary are many and various and it would be impracticable to give details of them.