HC Deb 13 May 1994 vol 243 c257W
Ms Lynne

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make the support and advice of Parliamentary Counsel available to all hon. Members.

Mr. Newton

The role of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel is to draft legislation at the request of Ministers. I have no plans to change this.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the report Stage of the Tobacco Advertising Bill have been drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the report Stage of the Tobacco Advertising Bill have been drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel; and on whose instructions such amendments were drafted.

Mr. Newton

None of the amendments for consideration at the Report stage of the Bill has been drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many private members have had the support of Parliamentary Counsel in drafting amendments to other private Members' Bills since April 1992.

Mr. Newton

Parliamentary Counsel draft amendments on the instructions of Departments acting on the authority of Ministers. How many of these were subsequently tabled by private Members is not recorded.