§ Sir B. FALLEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the restrictions suggested in the report of the Royal Commission are to be imposed as to the age of the judges of the Malta courts either on appointment or for retirement; and, if so, what that age is to be and what length of service must a judge perform before becoming pensionable?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERSubject to the modifications indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 2nd March, His Majesty's Government have decided to accept the recommendations of the Malta Royal Commission in their entirety. One of these recommendations is to the effect that persons appointed to be Judges should have had at least 12 years' experience either as Counsel or on the Magisterial Bench; but apart from this there288W is no suggestion in the report that any new conditions should be imposed with regard to the age of Judges either on appointment or for retirement. Under the present law Judges must have had 10 years' Government Service in a judicial or other capacity before they become pensionable. The age at which pension may be granted is 60, or earlier if retirement is on the ground of ill-health.