HC Deb 18 January 1999 vol 323 c325W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the public registration of judges' interests; and if he will make a statement. [65866]

Mr. Hoon

There are at present no plans to provide for the public registration of judges' interests. However, in relation to the House of Lords in its judicial capacity, the Lord Chancellor has for the future requested the senior Law Lord, or the senior Law Lord in the chair, to ensure that at the time when any Committee is being composed, its proposed members will consider together whether any of their number might appear to be subject to a conflict of interest; and, in order to ensure the impartiality, and the appearance of impartiality of the Committee, to require any Law Lord to disclose any such circumstances to the parties and not sit if any party objects and the Committee so determines.