§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether, without disclosing information about identifiable persons, he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available for the longest stated period of time giving the amounts of payments in fees, expenses and all other types of moneys made to right hon. and hon. Members for any legal work they may have performed for the Government directly of indirectly or for any of its agencies.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. I have already made it clear that, where persons are asked to perform legal work for the Government in their professional capacity, no regard is had to whether or not they are Members of this House. No information of the kind requested is therefore readily available and such information could not be procured without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General if he will seek to amend the law so that lawyers who are right hon. and hon. Members are precluded from obtaining briefs and payments for legal work connected with the Government on the basis of an office of profit in the same way and on the same basis as right hon. and hon. Members are barred from receiving payments or expenses from an office of profit.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. There is no analogy between the receipt of fees for legal work carried out and the former rules relating to the holding of offices of profit under the Crown.