§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Prime Minister what functions in the operation of magistrates courts are the responsibility of the Home Secretary; and what functions are the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Lord Chancellor, who as head of the judiciary has a special relationship with the magistracy, is responsible for the appointment and training of magistrates and for expenditure on legal aid and costs out of central funds. He makes rules of procedure for magistrates courts and has some responsibility for duty solicitor schemes. All other aspects of magistrates courts administration and procedure are, within central Government, the province of the Home Secretary.