§ 38. Mr. CorbettTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to encourage more women to apply for appointment as regional adjudicators to the immigration appellate authorities. [76345]
§ Mr. HoonMy right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor wishes to see more women appointed to all levels of the judiciary, including the Immigration Appellate Authority. His guiding principle remains that judicial appointments are made solely on merit. He has already announced a number of measures designed to encourage more applications from women practitioners, including more flexible arrangements for some part-time judicial sittings and the development of work-shadowing and mentoring schemes.