MAGISTRATES (Hansard, 29 October 1975)

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Attorney-General if any records are kept of socioeconomic groups to which magistrates belong.

§ The Solicitor-General
Records are kept of the occupations of justices of the peace, but these do not indicate the socio-economic groups to which they belong.

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Attorney-General how magistrates are appointed.

§ The Solicitor-General
Justices of the peace are appointed on behalf of the Queen by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor or, in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy, on the advice of local advisory committees. Stipendiary magistrates are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor.

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates there are presently in England and Wales.

§ The Solicitor-General
On 22nd October 1975 there were 28,510 justices of the peace and 51 stipendiary magistrates.

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates are trade unionists.

§ The Solicitor-General
Many magistrates are trade unionists, but information as to their numbers is not available.

§ Mr. Watkinson
asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates are women; and how many are men.

§ The Solicitor-General
On 22nd October 1975, 9,656 justices of the peace were women and 18,854 were men.