§ Baroness Thomas of Walliswoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps, if any, they are taking to ensure that the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary include some women. [HL1473]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)In advising on the appointment of Lords of Appeal it has always been my policy, and that of my predecessors, that these appointments must be made on merit. However, this in no way prejudices my commitment to securing equality of opportunity, with a view to promoting a greater diversity across the whole of the judiciary, including at the very highest levels. such as the House of Lords.
It is the general practice to appoint as Lords of Appeal those serving as judges in the Supreme Court (or the Scottish and Northern Irish equivalents) and in that context there has been an encouraging increase in the number of senior women judges appointed in recent years; for example, there are now 11 women judges in the High Court and above, and five out of the 12 senior appointments made in 1999–2000 were of women.
The measures I am taking, and the growing number of women in the legal profession, should ensure a continuing improvement in numbers. I will build on the initiatives I have already taken with a view to progessive increases in the number of women judges at all levels as the pool of suitable candidates at the requisite senior level in the profession grows.