HC Deb 20 July 1984 vol 64 cc351-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Attorney-General whether blind people are still excluded from the magistracy; and whether he has any plans to reverse this practice.

The Attorney-General

At the beginning of 1978 the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Elwyn-Jones, explained and confirmed that blind persons are ineligible for appointment to the magistracy. There can be no change in this position. Unfortunately, the need for personal observation by justices not only of parties to proceedings and witnesses but also of documents, reports and plans renders it impossible in the interests of justice to appoint blind persons. Similar reasons apply to those who, by reason of deafness, are unable to hear oral testimony.