§ Lord Acknerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will undertake not to delegate their obligations under Section 98 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 to the Court Service Agency.
§ The Lord ChancellorOn its establishment as an Executive Agency on 3rd April 1995, the Court Service assumed responsibility for appointing judges' clerks on the Lord Chancellor's behalf. No delegation has occurred, or will occur. The Court Service continues to be part of the Lord Chancellor's Department.
§ Lord Acknerasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the increasing workload of the senior judiciary, whether they can confirm their past assurances to the judges that no change will be made in the quality and standing of judges' clerks without full consultation.
§ The Lord ChancellorResponsibility for this subject is now exercised on my behalf by the Chief Executive of the Court Service. I have accordingly asked the Chief Executive to reply direct.
Letter to Lord Ackner from the Chief Executive of the Court Service, Mr. Michael Huebner, dated 5th June 1996.
The Lord Chancellor has asked me to reply to your Question about the quality and standing of judges' clerks.
126WAI can confirm that no change will be made in respect of the quality and standing of judges' clerks without full consultation.
§ Lord Acknerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they propose to take to meet the concerns of the senior judiciary at the proposal to reduce the maturity, the experience and the proficiency required for appointment as Clerk to a Lord Justice and to a Judge of the High Court under Section 98 of the Supreme Court Act 1981.
§ The Lord ChancellorResponsibility for this subject is now exercised on my behalf by the Chief Executive of the Court Service. I have accordingly asked the Chief Executive to reply direct.
Letter to Lord Ackner from the Chief Executive of the Court Service, Mr. Michael Huebner, dated 5th June 1996.
The Lord Chancellor has asked me to reply to your Question about the appointment of judges' clerks.
There is no proposal to reduce the maturity, the experience or the proficiency required for appointment as clerk to one of Her Majesty's judges under Section 98 of the Supreme Court Act 1981. The calibre of candidates applying for these posts continues to be assessed by a Recruitment Board consisting of experienced Court Service staff and a High Court Judge, normally recently retired.
As an additional measure of proficiency a keyboard skills/word processing test was introduced for the recruitment campaigns held in 1995 and 1996. These arrangements were discussed in detail with a High Court Judge nominated by the Lord Chief Justice to consider the recruitment of judges' clerks. This consultation process will be maintained.