§ Mr. Robert Sheldonasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what approaches the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster makes to political parties to obtain nominations for the magistracy within the Duchy;
(2) what action the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster takes to ensure political balance in the magistracy within the Duchy;
§ Mr. BiffenThe Secretaries of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's advisory committees are advised to keep in contact with the local political parties, as well as with other local organisations, to encourage them to recommend persons for appointment as magistrates. They also maintain a record of the party allegiances of magistrates where these are known at the time of appointment. Thereafter the committees do their best to ensure that new appointments improve upon the political balance of the bench as and when it becomes necessary to do so.