§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the recent document submitted to him by the Law Society on judicial appointments. [134330]
§ Mr. LockThe Lord Chancellor welcomes the acknowledgement by the Law Society of the improvements in the judicial appointments system which he has introduced. He notes that the Law Society calls for the creation of an independent Judicial Appointments Commission. He has not ruled out further reform for the future but considers it appropriate to proceed with the implementation and evaluation of the changes recommended by Sir Leonard Peach in his scrutiny. As part of this programme of development, the post of the First Commissioner for Judicial Appointments has now been advertised.