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It has also been suggested that the problems of the commercial court might lead to a significant decrease in this country's invisible earnings. I find it improbable that a temporary reduction in the total number of judges available to sit in the commercial court will do any long-term harm to its excellent reputation. I have been asked whether the advice of the group of senior judges and officials will be published. It is unclear yet whether the advice will be in a form which could be published. Parliamentary and Privy Council approval is required to increase the current statutory limit, so in the normal course of events, any changes which were proposed to be made as a result of the advice would come into the public domain. I should add, however, that, even if an increase in High Court judge numbers were agreed, the need to seek such approval and the problems of disengaging candidates from their current practices would mean that some time would inevitably elapse before any appointments would become effective.

The list of judges, then, nominated to sit in the commercial court as at 11th January 1993 was as follows : Mr. Justice Sheen, Mr. Justice Hobhouse, Mr. Justice Saville, Mr. Justice Gatehouse, Mr. Justice Phillips, Mr. Justice Potter, Mr. Justice Waller, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Mr. Justice Tuckey, Mr. Justice Coleman and Mr. Justice Clarke.

Mr. Justice Sheen is the Admiralty judge and devotes about 20 per cent. of his time to the commercial court. Mr. Justice Waller and Mr. Justice Potter are also presiding judges on circuits.

I should like to thank the House for the opportunity to reply to the points raised by my hon. Friend and, once again, to congratulate him on securing this Adjournment debate on a very important subject, about which I know he cares very sincerely, and of which he has considerable knowledge.

Question put and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-six minutes past ten o'clock.

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