§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the figures for women and men barristers who were judicial appointees at each level of the courts in(a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001 reflect the proportion of women and men called to the Bar between 10 and 15 years earlier. [12853]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe relevant data are not readily available in the form requested and I will write to my hon. Friend. Statistics from the Judicial Appointments Annual Report for 2000–01 show the overall average years in practice at the time of appointment for the main competitions held was 21.0 years for both banisters and solicitors. Figures from the Bar Council show that 10.8 per cent. of barristers with over 20 years' experience were women. Figures in the Annual Report show that the proportion of women, both barristers and solicitors, appointed in open competitions in 2000–01 was 28.4 per cent.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) men and (b) women appointees to the judiciary in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 were Queen's counsel at the time of their appointment. [12865]
396W
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe total number of QCs appointed to the judiciary in open competitions in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was 36, 35 and 53 respectively.
Information on the gender breakdown is not readily to hand but I will write to my hon. Friend with the information.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) men and (b) women appointees to the judiciary in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 were solicitors at the time of their appointment. [12849]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe total number of solicitors appointed to the judiciary in open competitions in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was 294, 211 and 277 respectively. Information on the gender breakdown is not readily to hand but I will write to my hon. Friend with the information.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average ages were of(a) women and (b) men appointees to the full-time Crown court judiciary in the last 12 months. [12864]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe information in the form requested is not readily available. Circuit judges are not generally appointed to sit exclusively in the Crown court. Many sit also in civil and family work and the balance of time spent sitting in the Crown court will vary between appointees and from one year to the next. The average age of candidates approved for appointment for the Circuit Bench in 2000–01 was 51.4 years. I will write to my hon. Friend with further information about appointments made to the Circuit Bench over the course of the last year showing the average age by female and male appointees.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) men and (b) women appointees to the judiciary in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 were single parents at the time of their appointment. [12851]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonInformation about marital status and children is not specifically sought from candidates and therefore no records are held. Members of the legal profession, irrespective of their background or personal circumstances are encouraged to apply for judicial office. Candidates are appointed on merit against the published criteria for appointment.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) women and (b) men appointed to the judiciary in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000 had previously taken an employment break in order to care for children. [12850]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonInformation about employment breaks to care for children is not specifically sought from applicants for judicial office; therefore there are no records available.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to put in place creche facilities associated with the courts with the aim of encouraging younger women with children to apply for appointment to the judiciary; and what other plans she has to offer such encouragement. [12852]
397W
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Lord Chancellor is not aware of a specific demand for such creche facilities. The Lord Chancellor gives general encouragement to women to apply for judicial office. With this in mind, among the initiatives he has introduced are a permanent part-time working facility and flexible part-time sitting arrangements for those who have had career breaks for family reasons. In addition the lower age limits for judicial office are applied flexibly.