§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was spent on training and retraining magistrates in the financial years 1979–80, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and the planned expenditure for 1992–93.
662W
Mr. John M. TaylorStatutory responsibility for providing training and retraining magistrates lies with the 105 magistrates courts committees in England and Wales. This is funded 80 per cent. from central Government grant and 20 per cent. from local funds. At this stage it is not possible to identify the amounts that have been spent by magistrates courts committees on training and retraining magistrates in the years in question, but measures are in hand to ensure that this information is recorded in future.
§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the names of those responsible for choosing magistrates for the borough of Sandwell and their length of service in each case.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe ultimate choice is that of the Lord Chancellor. He is advised by the Lord Chancellor's advisory committees, the members of which are as follows:
663W
Name Date of Appointment Warley Advisory Committee Mrs. D. Cox, JP (Chairman) 1985 D. L. Crump, Esq. JP 1987 Mrs. W. V. Dyke, JP 1991 Miss B. Fletcher, JP 1991 Mrs. F. J. Groves, JP 1981
Name Date of Appointment F. D. Head, Esq., JP 1987 Miss J. E. H. Marshall, JP 1987 H. E. Nottingham, Esq., JP 1991 C. G. Simmonds, Esq., JP 1991 J. Southall, Esq., JP 1981 R. G. Trigg, Esq. 1991 West Bromwich Advisory Committee P. J. Elliott, Esq., JP (Chairman) 1977 Dr. A. R. M. Evans, JP 1991 D. A. Hamilton, Esq. JP 1991 A. Mandley, Esq., JP 1988 J. A. Neale, Esq., JP 1984 J. F. Nicklin, Esq., 1988 D. Parish, Esq, JP 1981 D. B. Peakman, Esq., 1991 A. Pitt, Esq., JP 1988 Mrs. S. M. Smith, JP 1991 Mrs. M. Wilkes, JP 1984 Mrs. D. M. Wills, JP 1991
§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the political balance of magistrates for the borough of Sandwell.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe political allegiances of the magistrates, at the time of their appointment, were as follows;
Number Warley Conservative 70 Labour 54 Liberal Democrat 15 Independent and not known 16 West Bromwich Conservative 79 Labour 43 Liberal Democrat 11 Independent and not known 13 The Lord Chancellor has asked the West Bromwich advisory committee to seek additional appointments to improve the political balance.