§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions since April 1992 Ministers from his Department have(a) requested Parliamentary Counsel to assist in preparing amendments to private Members' bills on behalf of other private Members and (b) authorised officials to instruct parliamentary counsel to prepare amendments which were subsequently passed to private Members.
§ Mr. LangScottish Office Ministers have not on any occasion since April 1992 requested Parliamentary Counsel to assist in preparing amendments to private Members' Bills on behalf of other private members. On one occasion, in respect of the Carrying of Knives Etc. (Scotland) Bill, Ministers authorised an amendment which was tabled during the Committee stage by the Bill's sponsor.