§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Attorney-General what supervision is kept by his Department over the conduct of justices of the peace, in order to ensure that it remains up to the standard appropriate to the effectual discharge of their judicial and other duties.
§ The Attorney-GeneralResponsibility for the appointment and, where necessary, the dismissal of justices of the peace rests entirely with the Lord Chancellor, except in the case of justices for the County Palatine of Lancaster, where responsibility rests with the Chancellor of the Duchy. These two Ministers have Advisory Committees throughout their respective areas, one of whose duties it is to call the attention of the Minister to any justice whose conduct is not satisfactory. The police also have instructions 277W to inform the Lord Chancellor immediately a justice of the peace is convicted of any offence. On receipt of such information, the Minister concerned takes whatever action he considers to be appropriate.