Lord Carlile of Berriewasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current allowances payable to lay magistrates who lose a day's pay in order to sit; and whether they have any proposals to change those allowances. [HL939]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)Lay magistrates receive Financial Loss Allowance to compensate them for loss of earnings or social security benefits or additional expenditure incurred by them in performing their duties. The maximum amounts payable for sitting in excess of four hours are £83.56 for self-employed magistrates and £65.18 for employed magistrates. Lay magistrates are also entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowance.
The rates at which allowances are paid are reviewed annually by my department. The allowances were reviewed earlier this year and the new rates became payable on 1 September 2001.