§ 2.49 p.m.
§ LORD GLENDEVONMy 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 whether the Lord Chancellor's advisory committees are supposed to know the sex of potential justices of the peace before asking them whether they are willing to be appointed.]
436§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)Yes, my Lords. Of course my advisory Committees always know the sex of potential justices of the peace before asking them whether they are prepared to accept appointment.
§ LORD GLENDEVONMy Lords, in that case, could the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor instruct his committees, when offering this honourable appointment on his behalf, not to begin their letters with the discouraging words, "Dear Sir or Madam".
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I do not pretend to exercise any close control over the minutiœ of the epistolary practices exercised by my 187 advisory committees, but if any committee so addressed prospective justices then I should not approve of it. If the noble Lord will let me know which is the committee and who receives the documents I will take it up.