HC Deb 25 January 2000 vol 343 c163W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to transfer responsibility for the appointment of magistrates in the County Palatine to the Lord Chancellor. [104957]

Marjorie Mowlam

As my hon. Friend knows, I am consulting widely within the Duchy on a proposal that these responsibilities should transfer to the Lord Chancellor. The final decision, as with all such machinery of government matters, will be for the Prime Minister.