§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the caseload is of the international legal services section of his Department; and how many staff are employed(a) whole-time and (b) part-time on international legal services work. [32569]
§ Mr. WillsIn the Lord Chancellor's Department there is one official working specifically on international trade in legal services and 15 officials employed across the wider field of international legal policy and international legal relations. Their work includes matters of policy advice and discussions and negotiation. The officials are involved in opening up the market in international legal services, which earn the UK significant sums of foreign earnings, in promoting the rule of law and human rights in emerging economies and democracies, and in the detailed 1025W formulation and negotiation of policy in respect of European Community initiatives. This very important work is not measurable in terms of a caseload.