§ Ms. Janet AndersonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each year since 1987, the number of people submitted for consideration as justices of the peace in Rossendale broken down by(a) gender and (b) political affiliation; if he will indicate how many of these have not been approved, both as a total number and a percentage of all submissions; and if he will specify the criteria for the appointment of justices of the peace.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe statistics requested are set out in the tables.
45W
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Liberal Democrat Men Women Other not declared Men 1 2 3 1 Women 1 1 3 1 Future Consideration Men 1 1 3 Women 2 1 2 2 Labour Men I 2 Women 1 Conservative Men 1 2 Women 1 Liberal Democrat Men Women 1 Other not declared Men 1 1 Women 1
Number of names considered and deleted Total names considered Names deleted Percentage of names deleted 1987 6 1 16.66 1988 5 2 40.00 1989 6 3 50.00 1990 7 3 42.85 1991 20 12 60.00 1992 16 6 37.50 As regards criteria for the appointment of magistrates, these are set out in a handbook for the guidance of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's advisory committees on the appointment of justices of the peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. This broadly follows the pattern of the handbook from the Lord Chancellor's Department. The deliberations of my advisory committee in Rossendale are, of course, confidential.
A candidate's political persuasion is neither a qualification nor disqualification for appointment as a magistrate. Political persuasion as well as other factors such as age and experience are taken into account in order to try and achieve a bench which broadly reflects the area it serves.