§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Attorney-General (1) how many applications for the magistrates' bench were received annually for the period 1971 to 1981; what percentage of these applicants were successful in each of the years; what is the breakdown of (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants by social class (Registrar General's classification); and if he will consider making available to the unsuccessful applicants the reasons for their rejection;
(2) if he will estimate the percentage of magistrates drawn from the ethnic minorities.
(3) if he will publish a list of the bodies invited to make nominations to the magistrates' bench.
The Solicitor-GeneralNinety-six advisory committees representing the various geographical areas of England and Wales other than the Duchy of Lancaster make annual recommendations to the Lord Chancellor regarding new appointments to the magisterial benches within their respective areas. It is to these committees that applications are initially made, and no central record is kept of the number of such applications or the proportion of them which are successful or otherwise or of the number of magistrates appointed who belong to ethnic minorities. The collection of such information would entail disproportionate expenditure of public time and money. Any person, individual or corporate, may recommend a candidate for appointment as a magistrate, and the bodies specifically invited to make such recommendations vary very greatly from area to area.
The process of selection of suitable candidates, including interviews, is conducted on a confidential basis and it would not be generally either desirable or practicable to inform unsuccessful candidates of the reason or reasons for the decision not to recommend them to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. Speaking generally, however, the criteria are (i) personal suitability for judicial work (ii) balance of the whole local bench between sexes, political affiliations, occupational and social background. Experience in voluntary, community or public work is also considered a favourable factor. Where these considerations are adequately met, the Lord Chancellor encourages nominations of suitable candidates by advisory committees from members of ethnic minorities.