§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 December,Official Report, column 757, from what date Mr. Justice Colman will be available to commence sitting in the commercial court.
Mr. John M. TaylorMr. Justice Colman was eligible to sit in the commercial court immediately following his appointment. The day to day deployment of High Court judges is, however, a matter for the Lord Chief Justice, after considering the needs of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, the divisional court and the Court of Appeal, criminal division. In deciding where judges are to be deployed there are different questions of priority to be decided. The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice consider a reduction of waiting times in the latter two courts to be of high priority.