§ 45. Mr. Abseasked the Attorney-General how many judges continue to sit as permanent judges at the Old Bailey; how many have retired since the passing of the Courts Act 1971; how many non-permanent circuit judges have sat at the Old Bailey during the last year; and what steps are being taken to accelerate the implementation of the provisions of the Courts Act 1971 providing for the abolition of permanent judges at the Old Bailey.
§ The Attorney-GeneralTen permanent Old Bailey judges now sit there: since the Courts Act, two have retired, two have transferred elsewhere and one has died. No further permanent judges have been appointed: the Courts Act provides not for the abolition of the permanent judges but that there shall be no further appointments. Twenty-seven other circuit judges sat at the Old Bailey in 1977.