§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Attorney-General if he will enumerate magistrates in the north-west, excluding the county palatine, under the following categories (a) sex, (b) age groupings, (c) occupation, (d) social backgrounds, (e) resident or non-resident within their petty sessional area and (f) any political viewpoint or affiliation they have acknowledged.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe description "north-west excluding the county palatine" is vague. In Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire appointments are made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Lord Chancellor makes appointments in Cheshire and the rest of England and Wales. The information as to sex, age goupings and political views of magistrates in Cheshire is as set out, with the caveat that views are indicated prior to appointment and may have since changed, and that appointments were at a range of dates widely varying from the present.
The information sought on occupation, social background and whether magistrates reside or do not reside in the petty sessional area is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Justices on the active list in Cheshire Number Male 299 Female 239 Total 538 Age group Under 40 35 40–49 157 50–59 234 60–69 112 538 Conservative 234 Labour 156 Liberal/SDP 52 independent 73 Undisclosed 23 538