§ Mr. Keelingasked the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to consolidate statute law and to clarify archaic and ambiguous statutes.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Government realise the importance of consolidating statutes dealing with the same subject and of generally clarifying and overhauling the Statute Book. This task requires much more skill and experience than is commonly supposed. It should, the Government think, be undertaken systematically and with adequate provision for the specialised staff required. It will be a very long task. The war has, of course, increased the difficulties of the Parliamentary Counsels Office in recruiting and training draftsmen, and in view of this and of the heavy programme of legislation to be expected in the near future, some time must inevitably elapse before 807W the necessary staff is available. At present one Parliamentary Counsel is giving part of his time to this work with a trained assistant who has no other duties. As soon as men can be trained it is intended that one Parliamentary Counsel should be set apart for this work alone and have two trained assistants. If further staff are proved to be necessary in the future they should, in the Government's opinion, be provided. My Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is becoming the Chairman of the Statute Law Committee, who will exercise general supervision over the programme of consolidation work. When the machine is got into working order it is proposed to make an annual report to Parliament on the progress made.