§ Mr. WoolasTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor has completed the review of the guidance which is given to judges on outside activities and interests. [126775]
§ Mr. LockYes. Copies of the revised guidance to be used in future have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the substance of the existing guidance, which is long standing, remains basically sound. It is necessarily of a general kind, for application in individual circumstances. The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that it strikes an appropriate balance in discouraging activities or interests which may be seen to undermine judicial impartiality, or conflict with judicial office, without being unduly restrictive. He has at the same time made a number of detailed changes in the text and added a statement of general principles. The new guidance will be kept under review in the light of experience. The general guidance on outside activities and interests is separate from any question of conflict of interest arising in individual cases on which the Court of Appeal recently gave further authoritative guidance in its judgment in the case of Lockbail (UK) Ltd. v. Bayfield Properties Ltd.