HL Deb 18 March 2004 vol 659 c59WA
Viscount Bridgeman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the purpose of the repeal of the Supreme Court (Offices) Act 1997; and what effect its repeal will have on the current holder of the office of Permanent Secretary of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery. [HL1766]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Supreme Court (Offices) Act 1997 repealed the provision in the Supreme Court Act 1981, which set out the qualification for appointment as, and tenure of office of, Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery. The 1997 Act also contained a saving provision to preserve the tenure of the then holder of the offices. He retired in 1998. Having effected the repeal, and now that the saving provision is spent, the 1997 Act has achieved its purpose and it is unnecessary for it to remain in the statute hook. The repeal of the 1997 Act by the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill has no effect on the current holder of the offices.