§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Attorney-General how many judges there were at the latest date for which statistics are available; what were the figures five, 10, 20, and 30 years ago; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe number of judges in post at the relevant dates is set out in the tables. It should be noted that the post of circuit judge was not brought into being until the enactment of the Courts Act 1971. The second table, therefore, which deals with number in post in 1968 and 1958, gives the number of county court judges who were in post at the relevant time.
In addition to the county court judges in post at that time there were a small number of full-time judges in the quarter sessions. As at 1 January 1969 there were 25 such posts, but the exact numbers in post 20 and 30 years ago respectively cannot be ascertained without the expenditure of disproportionate resources.