§ Mr. SCURRasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists regarding the appointment of persons to be justices of the peace; and whether he will have legislation introduced permitting local authorities to appoint some of their number for a limited period of years as justices, thus following the practice which prevails in Scotland?
The ATTORNEY-GENERALI have been asked to reply. I am not aware that any dissatisfaction exists regarding the method of selecting and appointing persons to be justices of the peace in England. The alternative method suggested by the hon. Member was not recommended by the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace, which considered both the Scottish and the English systems, and I do not think it necessary or desirable to introduce legislation on the subject.