§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Attorney-General (1) what is the average time taken in the Chancery Division in drawing up orders; why this amount of time is taken; and what steps are being taken to reduce it;
(2) what is the complement of secretarial staff employed in the Chancery Division at the present time; by how many the figure is short of the full complement required; and what steps are being taken to recruit additional secretarial staff.
§ The Attorney-General:It normally takes about 18 days from the date the order is bespoken until the draft is made available. It takes about 12 days for it to be engrossed after the draft has been approved. Urgent orders are given priority and are dealt with more quickly. The orders are typed by the Scrivenery Department, the present complement of which includes 78 typists and is up to strength. The need to provide additional typists and accommodation and to accelerate the time taken in the engrossment of orders is being urgently investigated.