§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the salary structure for magisterial officers.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonThe salary scales and other conditions of service of the staffs of magistrates' courts are negotiated by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Justices' Clerks' Assistants.
Mr. Gistasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the terms offered to legally qualified staff in magistrates' courts are attracting sufficient numbers to enable the courts to operate to a satisfactory standard.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonThe salary scales and other conditions of service of justices' clerks and the staff of magistrates' courts, whether legally qualified or not, are negotiated by the Joint Negotiating Committees for Justices' Clerks and for Justices' Clerks' Assistants. Responsibility for the appointment of justices' clerks and their staffs rests primarily with the magistrates' courts committees concerned. We are not aware of any general difficulties over appointments, although we know that problems can arise locally from time to time.