§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Attorney-General how many lay and stipendiary magistrates on the Newbury bench have previously served in the armed forces; how many belong to political parties; and to which parties.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe metropolitan stipendiary who sat at Newbury during January has not served in the armed forces. Otherwise the information required is not known.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Attorney-General how many of the lay and stipendiary magistrates on the Newbury bench are Berkshire ratepayers.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAll the lay justices of the peace on the Newbury bench and the metropolitan stipendiary magistrate who sat in Newbury during January reside in Berkshire, but it is not known how many are ratepayers, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General how applicants for appointment to the magistrates' bench in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne are informed that they are always entitled to withhold information relating either to his or her religion or political commitment.
§ The Attorney-GeneralApplicants would not be so informed unless they inquired of the secretary of the advisory committee. As my reply to the hon. Member on 30 January 1984 — [Vol. 53, c.20]— made clear a candidate is not obliged to give any information which he does not wish to disclose. Neither is a person obliged to apply or allow his name to go forward for consideration, but if he does so the advisory committee needs sufficient personal information to enable it to carry out its duty of recommending to the Lord Chancellor the most suitable candidates who will maintain or improve the balance of the bench. Such information is treated in confidence and used only for appointment purposes.
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if the secretary to the advisory committee on the appointment of magistrates in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne is a full voting member of the committee.
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General how many members of the advisory committee on the appointment of magistrates in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne are (a) women, (b) judges and (c) magistrates.
§ 10. The Attorney-General(a) four, (b) none, and (c)
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if he will list by name the 34 local organisations which are consulted by the Newcastle upon Tyne advisory committee 682W and which are referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East, Official Report, 31 January, c. 20.