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Last updated: 08 July 2009
4.1 Bill teams will need to work with a number of officials beyond their own department and those with an immediate policy interest, including “business management” officials – those involved in managing the Government's business in Parliament. These people are listed below.
4.2 Legislation Secretariat supports Legislation Committee in the overall management of the Government's programme of legislation. Legislation Secretariat will want to meet regularly with Bill teams during preparation of the Bill and have weekly progress checks by telephone after introduction. Legislation Secretariat should be the first port of call for all legislative matters – contact on 020 7276 0242 / 0135.
4.3 The Secretariat to the relevant policy Committee of Cabinet, e.g. Economic Development Committee, Housing Planning and Regeneration Committee, will coordinate the collective agreement process for the policy in the Bill – contact details available from Legislation Secretariat.
4.4 The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is responsible for drafting legislation – if no individual Parliamentary Counsel has been allocated to the Bill, contact on 020 7210 6629.
4.5 The Public and Private Bill Offices of the two Houses (contact Commons on 020 7219 3258 / 6008, Lords on 020 7219 3153) support the legislative process in Parliament and advise Government and Opposition Members, and the Chair in House and Committee. The Clerk of Legislation in the Commons and the Clerk of Public Bills in the Lords clear Bills for introduction as confoming with the rules of each House.
4.6 The Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Bill Minister or Secretary of State sits on Public Bill Committee and advises the Minister on handling – contact through the Bill Minister's Private Office.
4.7 The Government Whips' Office in the Commons supports the Government Whips in liaising through the usual channels on programme motions and supporting Ministers in the Chamber. It can also provide advice on the programming and timing of legislation and on Parliamentary procedures for Bills; contact on 020 7276 2020.
4.8 The Government Whips' Office in the Lords negotiates to secure time for Bills in the Lords (where there is no programming), and negotiates the grouping of amendments. It offers advice and help with all aspects of Parliamentary procedure and handling, including delegated powers, and will support the Lords Minister in Chamber – contact on 020 7219 3131.
4.9 The Attorney General's Office advises the Law Officers where Bills raise issues of particular legal difficulty, disagreement or importance; and on retrospectivity; early commencement; Crown Immunity; devolution; or ECHR compatibility (where the latter cannot be dealt with by the MoJ) – contact on 020 7271 2400.
4.10 The Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General within the Attorney General's Office plays a similar role and its advice should be sought if any of these issues have any bearing on Scotland – contact on 020 7270 6708.
4.11 The Better Regulation Executive in BERR can advise on Impact Assessments, guidance for business and the third sector, applicability of legislation to small firms, and any other regulatory issues. It should agree the approach taken with the Impact Assessment, and will want to be satisfied that the Bill does not impose disproportionate burdens on business or the third sector – contact on 020 7215 0246.
4.12 The Government Equalities Office can advise on completing the statutory Equality Impact Assessments on Race, Disability and Gender – contact on 020 7944 4084.
4.13 The Scotland Office is the first port of call for discussing any provisions that may effect Scotland, including identifying where a Legislative Consent Motion (formerly known as Sewel Motion) may be required if the Bill touches on matters that are devolved to Scotland, and supporting departments in any negotiations with the Scottish Executive – contact on 020 7270 6802.
4.14 The Wales Office is the first port of call for discussing any provisions that may affect Wales, including identifying where a Legislative Consent Motion may be required if the Bill touches on matters that are devolved to Wales or where Welsh Ministers should be consulted on provisions in the Bill that extend to Wales, and supporting departments in any negotiations with the Welsh Assembly Government – contact on 029 2089 8048.
4.15 The Northern Ireland Office is the first port of call for discussing any provisions that may affect Northern Ireland, including identifying where a Legislative Consent Motion may be required if the Bill touches on matters that are transferred to Northern Ireland, and supporting the department in any negotiations with the Northern Ireland Executive – contact on 020 7210 6575.