§ 46. Mr. Gwynoro Jonesasked the Attorney-General how many times in the past two years his Department has investigated the actions, decisions or comments of a magistrate during a court case in Wales.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSix times.
§ Mr. JonesDoes not the Attorney-General agree that any extension of the stipendiary magistracy in Wales should be viewed with disfavour? Does he agree, further, that there is no lack of genuine impartiality in Wales and that any magistrate who in future disobeys or disregards his oath of allegiance ought to be removed from office?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI agree with the hon. Gentleman about the duties of magistrates and the proper carrying out of them. There have been six cases, only one of which involved a stipendiary magistrate. The other five involved 992 ordinary lay magistrates. But it is essential that magistrates, who do not have to take appointments as magistrates, should carry out their duties in accordance with their oaths.
§ Mr. George ThomasIs the Attorney-General aware that at present we have two standards of justice in Wales and that these politically biased magistrates, to the right hon. and learned Gentleman's own knowledge, have on at least six occasions shown favour to people which would not be shown to English-speaking Welsh people? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take action to ensure that where magistrates are plainly motivated by personal bias they should be removed from the bench?
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn each of the previous five occasions, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor made inquiries and sought and received assurances from the magistrates concerned. In respect of the last case on 17th May 1973—the Caernarvon case, of which the right hon. Gentleman will be aware—my noble and learned Friend asked the chairman of the bench for an explanation, and he is still pursuing his inquiries.