§ 32. Ms MoranTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement regarding increasing the number of women on the Bench. [41288]
§ Mr. HoonThe Lord Chancellor regards this as an issue of real importance. Judicial appointments must continue to be on merit but he wants to see more applications from women and is actively pursuing policies to encourage women to apply. In respect of lay magistrates, he expects his Advisory Committees to have regard to the need for balance and 48 per cent. of the lay bench are women.