§ Mr. VazTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what race awareness course Judge Fingret has attended since his appointment to the Bench. [60326]
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§ Mr. HoonJudge Fingret was appointed a Circuit Judge in 1992. He attended a seminar on ethnic minority issues organised by the Ethnic Minorities Advisory Committee of the Judicial Studies Board on 28 and 29 March 1996.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will call for a report on the statement made by Judge Fingret at the Old Bailey case on the sentences of Timothy Heat and Jason Huczek. [60325]
§ Mr. HoonJudge Fingret's remarks as to whether this had been a racially motivated offence were made in the context of deciding the appropriate level of sentence. Judges are free to reach such decisions without interference from Government ministers and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to ask the Judge for a report.