High Court Judges

HC Deb 16 June 1993 vol 226 cc552-3W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by year for the last five years, and for this year to date, the number of barristers asked but who have declined to become High Court judges.

Mr. John M. Taylor

Set out below are the numbers of practitioners who have consented, and declined, to allow their names to be recommended to Her Majesty the Queen for immediate appointment to the High Court Bench in each of the last five years, and so far this year. All those who declined, with one exception, have made it clear that they hope to be considered again for appointment to the High Court Bench in the future.

	Numbers consented	Numbers declined
1988–89	7	—
1989–90	8	—
1990–91	2	—

	Numbers consented	Numbers declined
1991–92	7	1
1992–93	19	6
11993–94	8	2
1 to date.