David’s particular expertise is in the procedural requirements of the promotion of Parliamentary Bills and Statutory Orders.  He has over 35 years clerking responsibility for a wide range of promotions and is now the most experienced parliamentary clerk in this specialised field. He has been involved in the promotion of private bills in both the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments, hybrid bills for the Government authorising major transport infrastructure projects and has managed applications for orders under the Transport and Works Acts, Harbours Act and other legislation.

Recent Experience

David has extensive expertise in managing works applications and, working as part of project teams, advises on programming and procedural requirements, plans and sections, land referencing, consultation and all other procedural aspects of the promotion. He routinely prepares descriptions of works and land acquisition and other schedules and drafts notices and other documentation. David regularly advises project teams on the consultation requirements and guidance for transport schemes and in the preparation of consultation reports. He has acted as Programme Officer for a major TWA public inquiry and was responsible for programme management of the HS2 and Crossrail Select Committee hearings. He prepared initial plans and sections for infrastructure schemes authorised by Private Bill in Scottish Parliament adopted as template by the Bills Unit.

He has also assisted in the preparation of tender documents for appointment of engineering and other consultants on behalf of a client promoting a major railway scheme in respect of which he was part of the team assessing tender documentation and interviewing candidate teams.