§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Attorney-General if it is the policy of the Lord Chancellor to encourage Metropolitan stipendiary magistrates to apply for appointment as circuit judges if formally qualified for the purpose.
The Solicitor-GeneralAll applications for appointment to the circuit Bench from suitably qualified persons are equally welcome whether or not they are serving as stipendiary magistrates.
§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Attorney-General how many circuit judges were appointed in each of the last five years, respectively; and how many were formerly stipendiary magistrates in each case.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe figures are:
Year Number of Circuit judges appointed Of whom the following were stipendiary magistrates on appointment 1975 18 1 1976 23 1 1977 20 — 1978 30 1 1979 17 — During the calendar year 1980 26 circuit judges have been appointed to date and four new appointments have been announced. Two of those four are at present stipendiary magistrates.