§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the Attorney-General by what authority a licensed victualler is debarred from becoming a justice of the peace.
The Attorney-GeneralThere is no statutory prohibition against a licensed victualler being a J.P. By long administrative practice the Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for the advice given to the Crown in relation to the selection and appointment of Justices of the Peace, except in Lancashire, has not appointed licensed victuallers to the Bench. The terms of reference to the proposed new Royal Commission, will include this subject among others.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General whether, as the considerations which led to the creation of the supplementary list of justices of the peace apply with equal force to the functions of a judicial authority under the Acts relating to lunacy and mental deficiency, he will take steps to see that justices of the peace on the supplementary list do not in future exercise any powers under these Acts.
The Attorney-GeneralI think it is undesirable that a Justice on the supplemental list should exercise the power of a judicial authority under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts. The desirability of drawing the attention of those concerned to this expression of opinion is under consideration.