Parliamentary Counsel Office

HL Deb 11 March 1999 vol 598 c48WA

Lord Simon of Glaisdale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Prime Minister has delegated any aspect of his responsibility for the general conduct of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to any other Minister; if so, what aspect and to which Minister; and in particular whether this includes responsibility for observing the recommendations of the Renton Committee on Preparation of Legislation. [HL1328]

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

The position remains as stated in Chapter III of the Renton Committee Report onThe Preparation of Legislation; namely, The Prime Minister, as Minister for the Civil Service, is responsible for the administration of the Parliamentary Counsel Office, but Ministerial responsibility for the drafting of any particular Bill lies with the Minister in charge of the Bill. The Leader of the House of Commons is responsible in general for the Government's legislative programme, but not for the contents of any Bill unless she is one of its sponsors".