§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is at present provided for Her Majesty's judges.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
Appointments to the High Court and circuit Benches are made only from those who have many years of experience in practice at the Bar, or, in the case of the Circuit Bench, as solicitors followed by at least three years' judicial experience as Recorders; so that, on appointment, a judge is well qualified for his office 5W by his experience of the courts. In addition, my noble friend the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice arrange for regular conferences to be held at which sentencing principles and related issues are considered by the Judiciary. The most recent of these was held on 10th January 1978 and was attended by 10 Lords Justices and 46 High Court judges: a five-day conference will be held in September next, at which it is expected that, among other participants, 27 circuit judges and seven High Court judges will attend.