68 (b) the qualification requirements for appointment and the process to be followed for appointment, which must be an open, transparent and competitive selection process based on merit; (c) the salaries, benefits and allowances payable, in accordance with its budget as approved by Parliament; and (d) the total establishment or the total number of staff that are required to be appointed, in accordance with the budget as approved by Parliament. (12) The Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner shall be entitled to such remuneration as determined by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission following consultation by the Judicial Services Commission with the Attorney-General, and any such remuneration must not be varied to their disadvantage, except as part of an overall austerity reduction similarly applicable to all officers of the State. (13) The salaries, benefits and allowances payable to any person employed in the Commission are a charge on the Consolidated Fund. (14) Parliament shall ensure that adequate funding and resources are made available to the Commission, to enable it to independently and effectively exercise its powers and perform its functions and duties. Solicitor-General 116.—(1) The office of the Solicitor-General established by the State Services Decree 2009 continues in existence. (2) The Solicitor-General is responsible for— (a) providing independent legal advice to Government and to the holder of a public office, on request; (b) preparing draft laws on the request of Cabinet; (c) maintaining a publicly accessible register of all written law; (d) representing the State in court in any legal proceedings to which the State is a party, other than criminal proceedings; and (e) performing any other functions assigned by this Constitution, any written law, Cabinet or the Attorney-General. (3) The Solicitor-General, with the permission of the court, may appear as a friend of the court in any civil proceedings to which the State is not a party. (4) The Solicitor-General must be a person who is qualified to be appointed as a Judge.