HC Deb 05 June 1964 vol 695 cc209-10W
Mr. Fitch

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Government's plan for the training of justices of the peace.

The Attorney-General

I have been asked to reply.

My noble friend, the Lord Chancellor, is making the following arrangements for extending and improving the present system of training for justices of the peace.

Compulsory training will be introduced for all newly appointed justices. In future they will be required to follow a course of instruction, approved by my noble Friend, within a specified period after their appointment and they will not be allowed to adjudicate until they have done so. Similar provisions will also apply to justices appointed to the juvenile court panels, who will be required to complete a course of instruction before they sit in the juvenile courts.

In order to assist him in carrying out this new policy, my noble Friend has decided to set up a national Advisory Council on Magisterial Training and to appoint a full-time training officer to the staff of his Department.

The Council will be required to advise the Lord Chancellor generally on the policy to be applied to the training and instruction of justices of the peace throughout the country. It will be asked in particular to inquire into and advise on the particular requirements of individual areas. The Council will be a part-time body composed of persons with experience of magistrates and their work and some of the members will have special knowledge of educational methods. My noble Friend hopes to be able to announce the name of the Chairman of the Advisory Council very shortly.

The training officer, who will be legally qualified, will act as Secretary to the Advisory Council and will also spend a large part of his time visiting local areas where he will maintain contact with the magistrates' courts committees and ensure that the national training policy is carried out.

The obligatory training of justices will be brought into effect as soon as the Advisory Council has been established and has had an opportunity to advise on the best methods of administering the new scheme.