HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 c404W
Mr. Malins

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the future of the office of chief stipendiary magistrate. [5043]

Mr. Hoon

The Lord Chancellor hopes shortly to designate one of the metropolitan stipendiary magistrates to be chief metropolitan stipendiary magistrate in succession to Mr. Peter Badge.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if it is his policy to appoint future chief stipendiary magistrates from among existing stipendiary magistrates. [5029]

Mr. Hoon

Section 16(3) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 requires the Lord Chancellor to designate one of the metropolitan stipendiary magistrates to be the chief metropolitan stipendiary magistrate.