§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of training for the judiciary for each year since 1979.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Judicial Studies Board, which is responsible for training the judiciary, was established in 1979. Until 1987 it had no separate budget and expenditure on training for the judiciary in that period cannot be discretely identified. Since 1987–88 the Judicial Studies Board has had its own budget. Annual expenditure has been as follows:
£ 1987–88 604,330 1988–89 601,100 1989–90 977,909 1990–91 1,535,720 1991–92 1,765,460 1992–93 11,800,000 1 Estimate.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many days training per year were undertaken by the judiciary in(a) the Court of Appeal, (b) the High Court and (c) the circuit bench for each year since 1987.
Mr. John M. TaylorTraining for the judiciary is organised by the Judicial Studies Board. The numbers of judges trained at courses and seminars arranged by the Judicial Studies Board since January 1987 were as follows:
858W
Days (a) 1987 Circuit judges 300 (b) 1988 Court of appeal judges 4 High court judges 34
Days Circuit judges 519 (c) 1989 High court judges 16 Circuit judges 383 (d) 1990 Court of appeal judges 41 High court judges 116 Circuit judges 936 (e) 1991 Court of appeal judges 31 High court judges 19 Circuit judges 840 (f) 1992 High court judges 19 Circuit judges 546 (g) 1993 (to date) Court of appeal judges 30 High court judges 72 Circuit judges 56 In addition, each circuit judge attends an annual circuit conference chaired by the presiding judges. Precise figures for these are not available.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the names of those judges who have not undertaken any training(a) since their appointment to the bench, (b) in the last five years and (c) in the last 12 months.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information required is not available. Each year conferences are arranged on each Circuit for all circuit judges. Recorders and assistant recorders and also for district judges and deputy district judges. In addition a wide range of training is available through the Judicial Studies Board in the form of courses, seminars and other training events. When they are appointed all assistant recorders and deputy district judges attend induction courses and thereafter attend refresher seminars. If the hon. Member has a more specific question I invite him to write to me.