§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the age of 40 years was decided upon as the minimum age for current legal advisers in magistrates courts to be exempt from the requirements of the Justices' Clerks (Qualification of Assistants) (Amendment) Rules 1998; and if he will similarly exempt all postholders, irrespective of age. [66120]
§ Mr. HoonThe decision to exempt those people who are aged 40 or older strikes the right balance between the important aim of a fully professionally qualified service and the practical difficulties faced by some individuals. Considerable thought was given to the question of whether all existing court clerks should be exempted, but it was decided that this was not a reasonable option. Some of these clerks are in their early to mid-20s and can be expected to work until they are in their mid-50s. It was felt that such a long term timescale before all clerks were professionally qualified did not match the timescale for modernising the magistrates courts to meet the challenges emerging now and in the future.