HL Deb 25 February 1999 vol 597 cc140-1WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the names, occupations and qualifications of those lay interviewers who are involved in assessing applicants for judicial office. up to and including Circuit Judges. [HL1069]

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

The attached table lists the current lay interviewers who are involved in the assessment of candidates for judicial office up to and including Circuit Judges and their occupations as stated at the time of their appointment. Details of their formal qualifications are not required as part of the selection process.

Lord Chancellor's Department Lay Interviewers
Name Occupation
Annie Anderson Housewife
Kodavoor Ramachandra Aithal JP Company Director
Eileen Vera Baglin-Jones JP Education Officer, Oxfordshire County Council
David Graham Barrett Retired Local Government Official
Bernard William James Baxter JP Retired Headteacher
Alison Helen Bernays Self-employed in farming and Rural Tourism
Colin Leonard Bird JP Scientist, IBM UK Laboratories
Stuart Paul Blakey JP Retired Personnel Manager
Leonora Angela Evike Brydon JP Retired Headteacher
Stella Clarke JP Director of Catering Company
Susan Elizabeth Clarke JP Director of Automation Systems Company
Dr. John Philip Davies JP Retired Headteacher
Dr. Elspeth Clarkson JP Consultant Pathologist
Gillian Charity Cooper JP Company/General Secretary
Dr. Jill Diprose JP Community Paediatrician
Gordon Dixon JP Retired Personnel Manager
Cecily Sarah Eden Director Health Promotion, Birmingham CHT
Henry Elwes JP Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire
Brain Edward Evans JP Retired Senior Engineer, East Midlands Electrictity
Reverend Barbara Fletcher JP Retired Librarian and Part-Time Minister
Douglas John Green MBE JP Retired Marketing Services Manager
Susan Elizabeth Green Community and Mental Health Trust worker
Margaret Hazel Henley JP Retired Training Scheme Manager
Alan Anderson Hepburn Director of Employee Relations, Jaguar Cars
Wendy Elizabeth Hickling JP Chairman. Fosse Health Trust
Pamela Doreen Homer JP Nursing Director
Elizabeth Margaret Innes JP Housewife
Anthony Clifford Owen James JP Security & Emergency Services Manager
Winfhrop Bismarck Jones JP Retired Head of Dental Services
Brenda Jane Macaskill JP Retired Social Worker
Elizabeth Angela Mason JP PR for St. John's Ambulance
Leo Murphy JP Headteacher
Dr. Sandra Valerie Isabella Naik JP Medical Practitioner, Jessop Hospital for Women
Rosalind Jane Neary JP Retired Dental Therapist
Deirdre Morag Newham JP Business Counsellor
Susan Norton JP Assistant Staff Manager, John Lewis
Phyllis Doreen Parfitt JP Retired Computer Operator

Lord Chancellor's Department Lay Interviewers
Name Occupation
Rita Ann Piepe JP Senior University Accommodation Officer
Carola Forsteen Ramsden JP Housewife
Dr Raj K. Raja Rayan Dental Practitioner
Dr. Julie Ruth Richardson JP Course Tutor, Open University
Diane Mary Shepherd JP Management Consultant
David Hall Smith JP Retired Headteacher
Peter Simpson JP Company Managing Director & Business Consultant
David Tempest JP Personnel & Training Manager
Kathrin Elizabeth Thomas JP Chairman Bro Taf Health Authority
Robert John Williams JP Principal St. Aidans College, Durham University
Judith Sonia May Worthington JP Co-ordinator of Adult Training & Education

Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out the criteria that are used in selecting lay interviewers from the members of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace. [HL1070]

The Lord Chancellor

The lay interviewers have been selected from among the Chairmen and members of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace who consider candidates for appointment to the lay magistracy and accordingly have experience of both interviewing and the judicial process. Individuals have been considered for appointment as lay interviewers against the following criteria in particular:

well-developed skills of assessing people;

sufficient knowledge of the judicial system to carry credibility;

understanding of the impact of the judicial system on all types of court-user;

credibility with the profession and with individual candidates.

Account has also been taken of the desirability of maintaining a broad balance within the panel in terms of factors such as gender, ethnic origin and geographical location.