HL Deb 22 November 1961 vol 235 cc860-1

2.42 p.m.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government—

  1. (a) how many county court judges have been appointed as High Court Judges since 1945, and when;
  2. (b) how many stipendiary magistrates have been appointed as judges of higher courts since 1945, and when.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT KILMUIR)

My Lords, since 1945 five county court judges have been appointed to the High Court bench (one of them was subsequently promoted to the Court of Appeal). The appointments were made in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950 and 1958. Two stipendiary magistrates have been appointed as judges of higher courts within the same period, in 1945 and 1961.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, is the inference from the Answer of the noble and learned Viscount that no county court judges except one have been found suitable for promotion since 1951, and only one magistrate?

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, the figures speak for themselves, as to the dates. I think it would be more profitable if we left our debate on the inferences to be made on the figures until our discussion to-morrow, when the noble Lord has put down Amendments to raise this point. But I think I ought to point out to him, in view of the speech that he must make to-morrow, that county court judges have on several occasions been appointed as Commissioners of Assize. In 1947 His Honour Judge Sir David Davies became the first National Insurance Commissioner and the late Judge Clark Williams became a Deputy Commissioner at the same time.