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(b) the proposed Colonial Precedents Index should be
no more than a limited expansion of the rough index which the section have made for the large body of assorted reference material which they have compiled in recent years. A first essential is to weed this material. This should be done by the section themselves. Thereafter the advice of Mr Bennett and of the Librarian of the Downing Street East Library service point (who is also interested in this material) should be sought to determine the most useful form which the Index might take.
1
29. We see rather more justification in Mr Bennett's purely advisory role than in the special tasks which have been set for him. For the next several years there will clearly remain some need for a centralized point to which general questions on Dependent Territories matters can be referred. What is required, however, is a permanent capacity for answering urgent questions such as Ministers are likely to pose in the middle of Constitutional Conferences. This must be provided by the General section itself or by the Legal Advisers rather than by a part-time adviser.
30. We recommend therefore that Mr Bennett's contract should be terminated when it expires on 30 June. Meanwhile he should be pressed to complete his updating of Colonial Regulations and thereafter asked to advise on a Precedents Index.
Administrative, Legal and Judicial Staffing Section
DS 5
HEO (ODM)
DS 9
DS 9 DS 10
Responsibilities
C J Hall Miss E L Daw
R LE Embleton A D Bay
Miss L Brown
31. The section's responsibilities cover the appointment of Governors, the recruitment, appointment, promotion and transfer of Administrative Officers and the arrangements for the transfer and appointment of legal and judicial staff in Dependent Territories. The section also acts as an establishment office for all these staff (except Diplomatic Service officers seconded to posts
in the Dependent Territories who look towards their own Personnel departments for personal administration). The numbers of staff
11.
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/and territories