HC Deb 23 October 2003 vol 411 cc650-1W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Minister for Women what measures are in place to bring more women to the higher levels of the judiciary. [133472]

Mr. Leslie

I have been asked to reply.

The principle of appointment on merit is central to the judicial appointments process and those appointed should be those who are best qualified for the job.

Notwithstanding this, the Government believe it is desirable to have a judiciary which is more reflective of the society it serves. While our judges have a reputation for excellence that is second to none, the Government recognise that there is, among other things, a significant gender imbalance within the judiciary.

Specific measures to bring more applications (including from women) for appointment to the High Court include the abolition of the previous procedure of appointments to the High Court Bench by invitation only, and the removal of lower and upper age limits for appointment to the senior judiciary.

More generally, initiatives to encourage a greater and more diverse range of applicants for judicial office include: the work shadowing scheme (which allows legal practitioners the opportunity to see what it is like to sit as a judge); the career statement scheme (which allows applicants for judicial office to explain any concerns they may have if they believe their career progress to date understates their judicial potential); the introduction of salaried part-time working for certain judicial posts (enabling individuals who cannot or choose not to commit to a full time post to nevertheless apply for judicial office); the introduction of a system of "block sittings" (which allows those who sit part-time as recorders, and have taken a career break, to obtain the necessary experience by sitting in 'blocks' to enable them to apply for full-time appointments on an equal footing with those recorders who have not had a break from sitting).

The Government recognise that more needs to be done, and has announced the intention to create a Judicial Appointments Commission. While the precise role of the commission is subject to consultation, we envisage that it will be tasked with looking at ways both to attract a more diverse range of suitably qualified candidates to apply for judicial office, and to find ways of making judicial career progression a more realistic prospect for traditionally under-represented groups, including women. The consultation paper 'Constitutional Reform: a new way of appointing judges' is available in the Library.

In the interim, the Department will continue to look at other ways of increasing diversity in the judiciary.