HC Deb 22 February 1978 vol 944 cc708-10W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in the Official Report the actual or estimated number of hours when judges are in session in court on a daily and weekly basis; how many weeks or months the courts sit; if he will list the salaries payable to the various stated types of judges; how much their salaries are per hour; what other emoluments they receive; and whether, at all times, judges' salaries have followed the various Government controls and incomes.

The Solicitor-General

The higher courts sit in general five days a week throughout the year, except in vacations when arrangements are made for courts to sit whenever practicable or to deal with urgent business. Sittings differ from court to court. Hearing hours vary but these are normally from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., with a lunch adjournment, but these hours are often exceeded. In addition, judges spend a considerable amount of time outside these hours reading the documents and drafting their judgments in the cases coming before them. It is therefore not possible to state their hourly rate.

Their salaries, which have at all times been subject to the Government's pay policy, are as follows, an additional pay supplement of £208.80 per annum being payable in each case:

£
Lord Chief Justice 23,050
Master of the Rolls 21,175
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 21,175
President of the Family Division 20,175
Lords Justices of Appeal 19,425
High Court Judges 18,675
Circuit Judges 13,000

Certain circuit judges receive a higher salary. These are the Recorder of London, the Common Serjeant and the former additional judges at the Central Criminal Court, all of whom are paid by the City of London and receive £15,300, £13,875 and £13,375 respectively, and the Recorders of Liverpool and Manchester and the Senior Judge at the Crown Court, Inner London, who receive £13,375 per annum.

In addition, judges receive appropriate allowances, principally in respect of travelling and subsistence.

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