Private Members' Bills (Hansard, 12 May 1994)

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 6 May,Official Report, column 651, what authorisation is required by 211W Parliamentary Counsel to undertake drafting of amendments to Private Members' Bills; and who authorised the drafting of the amendments to the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill which appeared on the notice paper published on Wednesday 4 May.

§ Mr. Newton
Parliamentary Counsel undertakes drafting work at the request of Ministers. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People authorised his Department to instruct Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the amendments tabled on 3 May which appeared on the notice paper published on Wednesday 4 May.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 6 May,Official Report, column 651, which Government Department gave instructions to Parliamentary Counsel to draft the amendments to the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.

§ Mr. Newton
The Department of Social Security.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
To ask the Lord President of the Council when the figure of £200 available to assist towards the cost of drafting of Bills of Members successful in the ballot for private Members' Bills was first set; when it was last varied; and what is its value when last set adjusted by the retail price index.

§ Mr. Newton
Pursuant to a resolution of the House of 29 November 1971, hon. Members who have secured one of the first 10 places in the ballot are entitled to claim not more than £200 towards the cost of drafting assistance for their Bill. This allowance has not been increased since it was introduced; its value adjusted by the retail price index and expressed in March 1994 prices is £1,371.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 6 May,Official Report, column 651, what is his estimate of (a) the number of man-hours taken to draft the amendments referred to in his answer and (b) the cost to the Exchequer.

§ Mr. Newton
Work on drafting of amendments to the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill was carried out in parallel with other work being undertaken by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and the time taken cannot be accurately assessed. This work did not involve any additional cost to the Exchequer.