§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a)men and (b)women from ethnic communities were appointed justice of the peace for magistrates courts covering the Greater London area during the last 12 months. [4783]
§ Mr. Wills. In the last 12 months, 38 people (15 men and 23 women) from ethnic communities have been appointed as magistrates in the Greater London area out of a total of 145 new appointments; that is 26.2 per cent. of the total.
The Middlesex and Inner London Advisory Committees will take part in a scheme involving job shadowing, education and training to encourage people from ethnic minorities to apply for appointment. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor announced the scheme, which will be run with the help of Operation Black Vote, on 2 May and it will be launched shortly. Any assistance my hon. Friend can give to assist in the recruitment of people from ethnic minority backgrounds would also be welcome.