§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many full-time women judges there are currently on the Wales and Chester circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many full-time women judges there are currently on (a) the northern circuit and (b) the north-eastern circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many full-time women judges there are currently on (a) the south-eastern circuit and (b) the midland and Oxford circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the northern circuit and (b) the north-eastern circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(5) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the south-eastern circuit and (b) the midland and Oxford circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(6) how many full-time circuit judges there are currently on (a) the western circuit and (b) the Wales and Chester circuit; how many there were at the end of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe total numbers of circuit judges, and the numbers of female circuit judges, on each circuit at the beginning of each of the last five calendar years and as at 1 May are set out in the table. The Lord Chancellor appoints to each judicial post the candidate who appears to him to be best qualified to fill it regardless of sex or other factors. He has repeatedly made clear his wish to appoint more women to judicial office. The composition of the bench at any one time is, however, dependent on the composition of the legal profession in the age groups from which appointments are made.