HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 c400W
36. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to ensure that the magistracy is representative of political opinions and ethnic balance. [3124]

Mr. Hoon

The Lord Chancellor requires his Advisory Committees to draw candidates for the lay magistracy from a broad a spectrum of the community so as to ensure, as far as is possible, that those recommended for appointment broadly reflect the communities which they will serve. Both political affiliation and ethnic origin are taken into account.