§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the observations of Lord Steyn on judicial appointment procedures; and if he will make a statement. [132146]
§ Mr. LockThe Lord Chancellor is aware of the reports of Lord Steyn's recent remarks at an event at the London School of Economics. The Lord Chancellor has already decided to establish a Commission for Judicial Appointments as recommended by Sir Leonard Peach to provide ongoing, independent monitoring of the appointments process and to provide a further recourse for disappointed candidates. The Lord Chancellor has not ruled out further reform, but he prefers for the present to proceed with and evaluate the implementation of the Peach report recommendations.