§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Attorney-General what information he has on the nature and extent of training or briefing organised for judges, by the Judicial Studies Board or otherwise, in connection with the introduction of the Children Act 1989.
§ The Attorney-GeneralTwenty one one-day seminars on the Children Act 1989, held in London and the large provincial centres, were attended by High Court judges, circuit judges, district judges, magistrates and justices' clerks. The speakers included paediatricians, child psychiatrists, directors of social services, guardians, court welfare officers and legal academics and the philosophy and new approach required by the Act were thoroughly explored. Residential seminars were attended by the designated family liaison judges and the nominated care judges. At further one-day seminars, district judges and justices' clerks worked out the local operation of the Act. A training pack was commissioned from the Open university for the use of those who train justices of the peace. A special seminar was arranged for the Law Lords and the judges of the Court of Appeal.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Attorney-General how many days of training have had to be undertaken by magistrates who serve on domestic benches in the current year both in respect of their normal duties and of their work in connection with the Children Act 1989.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince training for magistrates is organised locally by magistrates courts committees and no records are kept centrally it is not possible to state how many days of training have been carried out. However, the Children Act training syllabus requires 13.5 hours, and an extra three hours for panel chairmen. How much other training magistrates undertake depends on local requirements.