§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will consider appointing at least one stipendiary magistrate at Teesside.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor is pleased to consider the appointment of stipendiary magistrates following requests from the local advisory committees. No request has been received from the South Cleveland advisory committee.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many lay magistrates are currently needed to bring the Teesside bench up to full strength.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe required strength of any bench is determined by the number of magistrates needed to deal with the work without the annual number of half-day sittings for individual magistrates being excessive. The strength of the Teesside bench on 1 December was 274, and a further 23 people are being recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. The current and projected annual average number of sittings per magistrate is 43, which is a little high but is not regarded by the Lord Chancellor as excessive.