43. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Attorney-General if he will issue instructions that wherever possible training courses for potential magistrates should take place in the evenings.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe responsibility for administering schemes of instruction for magistrates rests with local Magistrates' Courts Committees, which are composed of magistrates for the area concerned. These committees are in the best position to know the times which are suitable for their local magistrates to attend courses of instruction.
44. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Attorney General what difficulties are being experienced in recruiting magistrates from among people in full-time employment; and what undertakings are sought from prospective magistrates concerning the amount of time that they will devote to their duties when appointed.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo particular difficulties are experienced in recruiting magistrates from among people in full-time employment, apart from the obvious one that many of these persons are too busy to undertake any additional work.
Candidates for appointment as Justices of the Peace are asked to give an undertaking that they will carry out a fair share of the magisterial duties. The extent of that varies from place to place; but my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor does not consider that a magistrate is carrying out his fair share of the work unless he normally attends his court at least once every two weeks.