§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Attorney-General what is the official retirement age for Court of Appeal judges, High Court judges, and circuit judges; how many retired judges in each category returned to sit in(a) 1987 and (b) 1988, as deputy judges or ad hoc deputy judges; on how many occasions these judges, on average, have sat as deputies or ad hoc deputies; and what is the rate of pay for such service.
§ The Attorney-GeneralCourt of Appeal and High Court judges retire on the date of their 75th birthdays. Circuit judges retire at the end of the completed year of service in which they attain the age of 72 though their period of full-time service can be extended, with the Lord Chancellor's approval, until they reach 75. In 1987, 43 retired judges sat as deputy circuit judges for a total of 1,868.5 days, five sat as deputy High Court judges for a total of 197 days, and eight sat as deputy Court of Appeal judges for a total of 285 days. In 1988, 32 judges sat as deputy circuit judges for a total of 1,764.5 days, eight sat as deputy High Court judges for a total of 273 days, and seven sat as deputy Court of Appeal judges for a total of 285 days. Deputy Court of Appeal judges are paid £361 per day. Deputy High Court judges are paid £328 per day. Deputy circuit judges are paid £179 per day.