§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish the total number of lay magistrates, as at 1 January, with statistics showing(a) the occupational and age breakdowns of this total, (b) the proportion of women and (c) the proportion of magistrates of black, Asian and non-white origins; and if he will give the same set of information for the year 1989.
Mr. John M. TaylorAt 1 January 1994 the total number of lay magistrates in England and Wales, including the Duchy of Lancaster, was 30,054, of whom 13,903—46.3 per cent.—were women. At 1 January 1989 the figure was 28,211, of whom 12,214—43.3 per cent.—were women. No information is available centrally on the number of magisrates of black, Asian of non-white origin but in 1993 5.5 per cent. of those appointed were from ethnic minorities; in 1989 the figure was 4.7 per cent. Statistics on occupation and age could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but should the hon. Member require this information for a particular bench it could be supplied to him.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes took place between 12 February 1993 and 1 January 1994, in the total number of(a) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, (b) Lords Justices of Appeal, (c) heads of division, (d) High Court judges, (e) circuit judges, (f) recorders, (g) assistant recorders, (g) stipendiary magistrates and (i) full-time chairmen who are (i) men, (ii) women, (iii) barristers, (iv) solicitores, (v) black or Asian and (vi) ex-Oxford or Cambridge; and if he will give revised figures for the average ages in each category.
Mr. John M. TaylorI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 7 February 1994,Official Report, column 11, which updated the information I gave on 12 February 1993.