ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S CHAMBERS (Office accommodation)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether there are any plans to provide better office accommodation for the Attorney-General and his staff than the offices they are currently occupying.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, arrangements have been made for the Attorney-General's Chambers to occupy the entire first floor of the Public Works Department building at High Street, when that Department moves to its new office at Mount Erskine sometime this year. This move will enable the Attorney-General and his staff to be provided with better and more adequate office accommodation.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister whether he means that it will not be possible for Parliament to extend its premises to the old P.W.D. building, or at least part of it? Or does he not think that Parliament needs to extend its premises for purposes of parliamentary business or for business ancillary to Parliament.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, active consideration is now being given by Government to extend the parliamentary premises, and the P.W.D. building would be an ideal building for such extension. But in that event the Attorney-General will have to move out again.