asked the Minister for the Public Service if the recruitment of parliamentary draftsmen is subject to the embargo on recruitment in the public service whereby only one in three vacancies can be filled.

Throughout the Civil Service it has been decided that only one vacancy out of every three may be filled. This arrangement applies without exception in the Civil Service, including the Attorney General's office where the parliamentary draftsmen are located.

Where small numbers of staff or scarce expertise are affected by this arrangement, special measures may be necessary and I am at present in touch with the Attorney General in relation to parliamentary draftsmen.

Will the Minister indicate how many vacancies, if any, exist at the moment in respect of the post of parliamentary draftsman?

I do not think I have that information to hand.