§ 43. Sir PARK GOFFasked the Attorney-General upon what principle selection is made from among the names submitted by advisory committees through the lord lieutenant of a county for appointments to the commission of the peace; and whether these appointments are made at regular intervals or as vacancies occur?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace presided over by the late Lord James of Hereford and in particular to the reference to the evil of overladen Commissions of the Peace referred to in this Report. Advisory Committees recommend appointments at such time as they consider additional appointments to be necessary, and in considering these recommendations my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor acts in accordance with the principles of this Report.
Captain, CROOKSHANKCan anything be done to remove from the Commission those who, owing to age and/or infirmity are unable to sit?
§ Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHTHas any attention been given in recent years to the composition of these advisory committees?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALFrequent attention is given to that question by my Noble Friend, and he takes the opportunity from time to time of altering the composition of the committees. In reference to the question of my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Captain Crookshank), the difficulty is one which is always in the mind of my Noble Friend, and from time to time, with the assent of those who realise what age and infirmity mean, their names are removed.