§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent race-awareness training is a part of the current training procedure for magistrates.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
The Judicial Studies Board is responsible for supervising the training of the lay magistracy, which is carried out locally. The revised syllabus set out in the "Handbook For The Training of Magistrates", published by the board earlier this year and approved by the Lord Chancellor, requires newly appointed magistrates to be given instruction in
awareness of the different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds of those with whom they may have to deal as defendants or witnesses".In addition, "Ethnic Minority Cultures" is an approved subject for inclusion in further training for magistrates.