Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
In relation to their proposals concerning judicial pensions, how many judges indicated that they would resign if the changes were not brought forward; and whether any judges had deposited letters of resignation should these proposals not be brought forward. [HL227]
§ The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)Senior judges and judges' representative organisations—including those from Scotland and Northern Ireland—expressed the opinion during consultation on the pensions tax changes that the strength of feeling about their implications was sufficient to lead to the resignation of serving judges. No letters of resignation on such grounds have been received by my department.