§ 23. Mr. LEESasked the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been appointed in the Derbyshire county area during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir William Jowitt)The total number of appointments in the six years is 131. I will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LEESIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that during 1927, 1928 and 1929 no magistrate has been appointed in the county of Derbyshire, and that the new advisory committee which was appointed two years ago has never been called to appoint magistrates?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI believe it to be the fact that during the years 1927–29 no magistrates were appointed in the county of Derbyshire, but that 24 were appointed in the year 1930.
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman any powers to deal with committees when the chairmen refuse to call them together?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALMy Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor makes representations to which attention is always paid.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONAre not most of these benches already overmanned?
§ Mr. LEESIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in the last two years letter after letter has been sent appealing to the Lord Chancellor to take steps so that people who ought to be appointed on the bench should be appointed?
§ Mr. BECKETTIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is intense dissatisfaction in many parts of the country, especially in London, and can he take any steps?
§ Following are the details:
1609§ The following appointments have been made to the Commissions of the Peace in Derbyshire:
| Year. | County of Derby. | Derby City. | Chesterfield. | Glossop. | ||||
| 1925 | … | … | … | … | 10 | 13 | 5 | — |
| 1926 | … | … | … | … | 55 | — | — | 2 |
| 1927 | … | … | … | … | No appointments were made in these years. | |||
| 1928 | … | … | … | … | ||||
| 1929 | … | … | … | … | — | 20 | 2 | — |
| 1930 | … | … | … | … | 24 | — | — | — |
| Total | … | … | 89 | 33 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Total number of appointments in the six years … … 131 |
§ 24. Mr. FREEMANasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the delay in calling together advisory committees and the dilatory procedure in appointing magistrates and justices of the peace in many districts; and whether he will take steps in this matter in order to secure representation of all classes of the community in these positions?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALAdvisory committees are called together if and when the appointment of additional magistrates is considered necessary. My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is not aware of any general dissatisfaction in the matter, but he is taking steps to deal with the one or two cases where it is suggested that too long an interval of time has elapsed between meetings. In the appointments which he makes, my Noble Friend endeavours to include persons of all classes of the community.
§ Mr. FREEMANIs the Attorney-General aware that in one of the two counties which I represent it is now five years since a meeting of the Advisory Committee was called, and that the Chairman is still delaying calling a meeting; and that in the other county no representative of the working-classes has ever been appointed?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI will bring those facts to the knowledge of my Noble Friend.
§ Mr. McSHANEDoes not the main difficulty lie in the fact that there is a large number of magistrates who do not act at all and who ought to be removed?
§ Major NATHANIs the Attorney-General aware that having regard to the 1610 nature of modern legislation the lack of justices of the peace in working-class areas is becoming nothing short of a public scandal?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALIf the hon. and gallant Member will bring any particular instances to my knowledge, I shall be pleased to put them before my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor who deals with this matter.