HC Deb 06 February 1995 vol 254 c9W
Mr. David Young

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recourse to compensation exist for those community charge payers wrongly committed to prison; and what action is to be taken against the magistrates who committed them.

Mr. John M. Taylor

Legal proceedings may be taken against a magistrate only if he has acted outside his jurisdiction and if it is proved that he has acted in bad faith. The Lord Chancellor does not intervene in judicial matters and there are no grounds for him to take action.