§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and 17W Food (1) how many legal officers are employed in his Department;
(2) what are the functions and duties of legal officers employed by his Department;
(3) what is the salary scale of legal officers employed in his Department.
§ Mr. John SilkinMy Legal Adviser and Solicitor is supported by 42 other lawyers including three who are employed part time. They act for the Forestry Commissioners and for the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce, as well as for my Department, on legal questions. Their main functions are advisory in the field of both English and European Community Law and include the preparation of legislation, civil litigation, prosecutions and conveyancing. The salaries are:
- Legal Adviser and Solicitor, £14,000 per annum.
- Principal assistant solicitors, £12,000 per annum.
- Assistant solicitors, £9,033 per annum to £11,000 per annum.
- Senior legal assistants, £6,625 per annum to £8,750 per annum.
- Legal assistants, £3,424 per annum* to £6,125 per annum.
In addition, inner London weighting of £465 per annum is payable to all except the top post and a pay supplement of £313.20 per annum is payable on salaries below £8,500 per annum, including London weighting, provided it does not bring the total above that figure.
* The starting salary for legal assistants ranges from £3,424 per annum at age 21 to £5,030 per annum at age 32.