§ 31. Mr. LofthouseTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the recruitment of magistrates clerks.
§ Mr. John PattenWe shall shortly be discussing with representatives of magistrates courts committees what steps relating to pay and other matters they can take as employers of courts staff to improve the present shortage of court clerks. We have already approved the establishment of 25 additional trainee posts this year. We plan to authorise more, and to make provision for training accordingly. We also plan to issue by the summer new recruitment publicity material for the magistrates courts service.