§ 54. Mr. Sydney Silvermanasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how often the composition of the advisory committees is revised; and when the last revision took place of the Advisory Committee for Nelson and Colne.
§ Mr. J. HyndThe composition of the borough advisory committee is revised whenever revision is considered necessary. The composition of the advisory committee for Nelson and Colne was last revised in 1944.
§ Mr. SilvermanCan the Minister explain why, in the list of names which he sent to me the other day as composing the Advisory Committee, there is included one gentleman who has been dead for nearly five years?
§ Mr. HyndI am certainly not aware of that fact, but the list of names which I have before me is certainly valid. As a matter of fact, these names are now being reviewed.
§ 55. Mr. Silvermanasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster upon what information he made the appointments to the advisory committees for Lancashire and the borough of Nelson and Colne.
§ Mr. J. HyndIn accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the selection of Justices of the Peace the choice of persons to be members of the advisory committees in Lancashire is left to the discretion of the Chancellor of the Duchy. In making the choice the Chancellor relies on such information as may be available or can be obtained from such bodies or persons as he may choose to consult in confidence.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs it not obvious from that answer and from the answer to the previous Question that the Chancellor's sources of information need to be replenished?
§ Mr. HyndNot at all. I would point out that so far as county benches are concerned, and the borough benches for that matter, annual revisions were suspended during the war. They are now being restored and there will be a check.
§ Mr. SilvermanDid not my hon. Friend say in answer to the preceding Question that the last revision took place in 1944, and how can he reconcile that with the inclusion and retention in the list of the name of a man who had then been dead for years?
§ Mr. HyndThe answer is that the revision in 1944, which was in connection with a vacancy that arose, was during the war period. The revision was made at that time and did not affect this particular individual.
§ Mr. Silvermanis not the name included in the list my hon. Friend passed to me only last week as being up to date and current?
§ 56. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the persons composing the Advisory Committee for Lancashire are 65 years of age or over; and whether he 29 is aware that all but two of them are representative of a single class of the community.
§ Mr. J. HyndFour of the persons composing the Advisory Committee for Lancashire are 65 years of age or over. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir."
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes not my hon. Friend now realise that it is utterly impossible to maintain the confidence on which the administration of justice depends if magistrates continue to he appointed in this manner?
§ Mr. HyndI do not know whether my hon. Friend is referring to the fact that the class question to which he refers is denied in the answer, or to the age of the selection committee.
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that I am referring to all his answers on this matter, including the fact that more than 50 per cent. of the members of the Advisory Committee for Lancashire are over 65 years of age, and more than 75 per cent. or 80 per cent. representative of a single class?