HC Deb 15 May 2003 vol 405 c365W
Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will provide a breakdown by formal job description of the total establishment at the Scotland Office. [104605]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 24 March 2003]: My Department has 121 staff in post, of which 35 are in the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland.

The job descriptions for staff in the Office of the Secretary of State cover the provision of advice to Ministers on the implementation and operation of the Scotland Act 1998 and a wide range of policy matters in reserved areas, under the broad headings of Economy, Industry, Home and Social Affairs and Parliamentary and Constitutional policy. A number of staff provide finance, personnel and administrative services across the Department as a whole.

Staff in the Office of the Advocate General provide legal advice in relation to Scots Law; instructing United Kingdom legislation applying to Scotland, representing departments in litigation in the Scottish Courts and supporting the Advocate General in her role as a Law Officer and under the Scotland Act. They act in Scotland for most Whitehall Departments in any aspect of Scots Law within their particular responsibilities.