§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many vacant posts460W there are for the High Court Bench; when he proposes to fill the vacancies; by what procedure he will fill the vacancies; and if he will make a statement. [122807]
§ Mr. LockThere are currently no vacancies on the High Court Bench. The assessment of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is that the current demands on the High Court are fully met by the number of judges in post.
In November 1999 the statutory ceiling on the number of High Court judges was increased by eight, from 98 to 106. Since then, four additional High Court judges have been appointed in preparation for the implementation of the Human Rights Act in October 2000. This has taken the number of judges from 98 to 102 (excluding Mr. Justice Bratza, who is serving full-time on the European Court of Human Rights).
There remains capacity within the statutory ceiling to appoint a further four judges. The Lord Chancellor will continue to monitor the demands on the High Court, and he will recommend the appointment of further judges, within the statutory ceiling, when he considers it is necessary.
In February 2000, as part of his regular search for potential candidates, the Lord Chancellor again invited applications for consideration for appointment to the High Court Bench. When vacancies arise, appointment will be made on merit from those who have applied, either in 1998 or this year, or from others whom the Lord Chancellor regards as meeting the criteria to the required degree of distinction. Of the 19 High Court judges appointed since February 1998, eight had applied for appointment, and 11 were invited to accept appointment.