HC Deb 10 March 1999 vol 327 cc249-50W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates are aged between 65 and 70 years. [75267]

Mr. Hoon

3,767 magistrates in England and Wales (excluding the Duchy of Lancaster) are aged between 65 and 70 years.

Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the retirement age for lay members of each of the tribunals for which he has responsibility. [75268]

Mr. Hoon

Of the tribunals for which the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility, only three include a lay membership. They are lay members of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal; service and medical members of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal; and surveyor members of the Lands Tribunal. Under the terms of the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993, lay members appointed to each of these tribunals on or after 31 March 1995 shall vacate office when they attain the age of 70. However, the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act contains provisions which allows the Lord Chancellor, in exceptional circumstances, to authorise continuance in office up to the age of 75 and transitional provisions which preserve the pre-existing compulsory retirement age of the end of year of service in which they reach 72 for those already serving on 31 March 1995.