House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Jan 2002 (pt 33)

Magistrates Courts (Worcestershire)

Mr. Luff: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of fines levied by magistrates courts in Worcestershire were collected in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available. [28900]

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Mr. Wills: Magistrates Courts Committees have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just the fines from the total.

It is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of Worcestershire only, as magistrates courts in Worcestershire are administered by West Mercia Magistrates Court Committee, which also covers Herefordshire and Shropshire and the information from these areas cannot be identified separately.

In addition to impositions by magistrates in West Mercia Magistrates Courts during the period October 2000 to September 2001, further amounts were imposed by other agencies, including the Crown court and magistrates in other areas. Some amounts imposed in West Mercia were transferred to other areas for collection.

The total amount of money collected by the courts in West Mercia included some amounts imposed in earlier periods, such as those being paid by instalment, and some amounts imposed in other areas, and therefore does not relate directly to an amount imposed in West Mercia.

The proportion of money collected by West Mercia Magistrates Courts Committee during the period October 2000 to September 2001 as a percentage of new impositions was 67 per cent.

Jurors (Allowances)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which payments to jurors meet the financial consequences of their appointment. [28820]

Mr. Wills: No assessment is made of the extent to which payments to jurors meet the financial consequences of their appointment. However, a potential juror can apply to a Crown court judge for excusal if they feel that they will suffer any financial loss through completing jury service. The maximum allowances payable to jurors are reviewed each year and are, as a general rule, increased in line with inflation. Lord Justice Auld has recommended a full review of the allowances payable to jurors. The Government are considering this as part of the package of recommendations.

Lay Magistrates

Mr. Hendry: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) lay magistrates and (b) vacancies for lay magistrates there are, broken down by county. [29711]

Mr. Wills: The total number of lay magistrates in England and Wales is published in the "Judicial Appointments Annual Report". The table taken from the 2000–01 edition shows the total number of lay magistrates, broken down by commission area. Figures are not kept broken down by county.

The numbers of magistrates required on each Bench is determined each year by the Lord Chancellor's local Advisory Committee. It is determined after consultation with the Bench chairman and magistrates courts committee with the aim of achieving average sittings for each magistrate within the range 35 to 45 half-days a year.

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The number depends on such factors as work load and the number of expected retirements and resignations, and the capacity of the Bench to cope with new appointments. Each Advisory Committee has a different recruitment cycle so the total number of vacancies is constantly

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changing. However, in the year ending 31 March 2001 the Lord Chancellor appointed 1,366 new magistrates against 1,667 vacancies that Advisory Committees hoped to fill (81.9 per cent.) The target is that by 2003 at least 95 per cent. of vacancies are filled every year.

Lay magistrates (excluding Duchy of Lancaster)—1 April 2001

Age Gender

Commission area Total Under 40 40–49 50–59 60–69 Male Female

Avon and Somerset 908 37 181 413 277 448 460

Bedfordshire 291 12 50 139 90 148 143

Cambridgeshire 345 12 73 162 98 169 176

Cheshire 495 33 98 216 148 247 248

City of London 120 7 33 52 28 55 65

Cleveland 428 20 93 192 123 236 192

Cumbria 306 12 45 153 96 157 149

Derbyshire 438 16 68 212 142 230 208

Devon and Cornwall 736 24 105 355 252 374 362

Dorset 352 7 64 165 116 182 170

Durham 308 14 63 143 88 172 136

Dyfed 240 3 49 116 72 146 94

East Sussex 405 8 66 182 149 191 214

Essex 647 14 116 342 175 329 318

Gloucestershire 294 6 47 143 98 159 135

Gwent 302 12 37 145 108 159 143

Hampshire 787 46 141 379 221 393 394

Hereford and Worcester 408 8 75 193 132 218 190

Hertfordshire 454 28 100 185 141 213 241

Humberside 450 13 81 231 125 218 232

Inner London 789 33 140 342 274 323 466

Isle of Wight 63 1 14 26 22 35 28

Kent 795 21 147 389 238 430 365

Leicestershire 522 19 98 234 171 272 250

Lincolnshire 397 20 66 196 115 187 210

Middlesex 950 40 172 430 308 444 506

Norfolk 441 12 64 220 145 214 227

North East London 546 38 117 240 151 299 247

North Yorkshire 375 8 77 177 113 187 188

Northamptonshire 339 10 55 152 122 175 164

Northumberland 189 7 34 70 78 91 98

North Wales 402 5 43 202 152 231 171

Nottinghamshire 681 31 114 277 259 340 341

Powys 86 4 16 40 26 46 40

Shropshire 271 5 52 124 90 147 124

South East London 409 21 94 173 121 212 197

South Wales 551 18 91 256 186 287 264

South West London 374 13 68 180 113 173 201

South Yorkshire 740 46 125 320 249 394 346

Staffordshire 572 23 122 249 178 298 274

Suffolk 352 11 56 194 91 185 167

Surrey 387 16 74 165 132 179 208

Thames Valley 937 29 145 488 275 439 498

Tyne and Wear 762 34 152 351 225 413 349

Warwickshire 204 4 34 104 62 106 98

West Glamorgan 275 7 32 117 119 148 127

West Midlands 1,684 88 345 720 531 885 799

West Sussex 349 16 65 161 107 177 172

West Yorkshire 1,329 76 283 600 370 674 655

Wiltshire 286 7 50 145 84 140 146

Total 24,771 995 4,530 11,460 7,786 12,575 12,196

Percentage of total 100 4 18.3 46.3 31.4 50.8 49.2

Political affiliation Ethnic background

Commission area Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Plaid Cymru Other and uncommitted White Black Asian Other Not known

Avon and Somerset 294 191 149 0 274 840 16 9 4 39

Bedfordshire 111 54 39 0 87 258 4 15 5 9

Cambridgeshire 132 84 40 0 89 325 1 4 0 15

Cheshire 178 137 52 1 127 484 2 5 2 2

City of London 42 21 14 0 43 88 12 2 3 15

Cleveland 161 137 41 0 89 372 0 8 3 45

Cumbria 107 66 21 0 112 302 0 1 1 2

Derbyshire 169 116 56 0 97 422 4 8 1 3

Devon and Cornwall 290 111 137 0 198 700 0 2 5 29

Dorset 155 42 73 0 82 334 2 3 0 13

Durham 68 118 19 0 103 301 2 4 0 1

Dyfed 59 60 36 35 50 232 0 0 0 8

East Sussex 159 79 49 0 118 381 1 5 3 15

Essex 262 125 105 0 155 597 6 2 1 41

Gloucestershire 145 39 48 0 62 244 4 5 1 40

Gwent 75 87 21 4 115 285 1 5 0 11

Hampshire 270 147 130 0 240 747 4 9 11 16

Hereford and Worcester 195 95 54 0 64 366 1 4 3 34

Hertfordshire 154 118 64 0 118 413 7 7 2 25

Humberside 188 121 49 0 92 443 0 5 2 0

Inner London 313 252 96 0 128 596 75 15 16 87

Isle of Wight 25 8 10 0 20 58 2 0 0 3

Kent 334 150 131 0 180 664 7 18 7 99

Leicestershire 187 121 69 0 145 476 13 22 7 4

Lincolnshire 172 70 58 2 95 351 0 5 2 39

Middlesex 357 292 94 0 207 729 71 71 23 56

Norfolk 162 102 69 0 108 384 1 3 4 49

North East London 182 194 64 0 106 394 42 33 10 67

North Yorkshire 151 69 58 0 97 353 0 2 4 16

Northamptonshire 173 78 54 0 34 321 7 11 0 0

Northumberland 66 40 26 1 56 189 0 0 0 0

North Wales 139 103 74 50 36 393 1 2 1 5

Nottinghamshire 252 189 78 0 162 632 17 15 5 12

Powys 25 10 20 3 28 84 0 0 0 2

Shropshire 105 64 58 0 44 262 1 2 2 4

South East London 147 95 65 1 101 345 19 14 9 22

South Wales 134 163 76 16 162 519 4 8 6 14

South West London 168 73 78 0 55 237 10 5 6 116

South Yorkshire 214 258 103 0 165 700 10 17 6 7

Staffordshire 210 181 53 0 128 546 1 18 1 6

Suffolk 107 68 52 1 124 344 1 3 4 0

Surrey 162 62 43 0 120 370 1 3 6 7

Thames Valley 359 175 137 0 266 859 23 22 8 25

Tyne and Wear 214 264 102 0 182 697 4 9 7 45

Warwickshire 79 50 42 0 33 191 2 9 1 1

West Glamorgan 83 106 37 10 39 271 0 3 1 0

West Midlands 584 558 195 0 347 1,434 72 103 12 63

West Sussex 126 75 74 0 94 334 3 4 2 6

West Yorkshire 411 440 173 0 305 1,089 33 74 10 123

Wiltshire 119 48 47 0 72 272 3 4 0 7

Total 8,974 6,306 3,413 124 5,954 22,228 490 598 207 1,248

Percentage of total 36.2 25.5 13.8 0.5 24 89.7 2 2.4 0.8 5

		Age	Gender
Commission area	Total	Under 40	40–49	50–59	60–69	Male	Female
Avon and Somerset	908	37	181	413	277	448	460
Bedfordshire	291	12	50	139	90	148	143
Cambridgeshire	345	12	73	162	98	169	176
Cheshire	495	33	98	216	148	247	248
City of London	120	7	33	52	28	55	65
Cleveland	428	20	93	192	123	236	192
Cumbria	306	12	45	153	96	157	149
Derbyshire	438	16	68	212	142	230	208
Devon and Cornwall	736	24	105	355	252	374	362
Dorset	352	7	64	165	116	182	170
Durham	308	14	63	143	88	172	136
Dyfed	240	3	49	116	72	146	94
East Sussex	405	8	66	182	149	191	214
Essex	647	14	116	342	175	329	318
Gloucestershire	294	6	47	143	98	159	135
Gwent	302	12	37	145	108	159	143
Hampshire	787	46	141	379	221	393	394
Hereford and Worcester	408	8	75	193	132	218	190
Hertfordshire	454	28	100	185	141	213	241
Humberside	450	13	81	231	125	218	232
Inner London	789	33	140	342	274	323	466
Isle of Wight	63	1	14	26	22	35	28
Kent	795	21	147	389	238	430	365
Leicestershire	522	19	98	234	171	272	250
Lincolnshire	397	20	66	196	115	187	210
Middlesex	950	40	172	430	308	444	506
Norfolk	441	12	64	220	145	214	227
North East London	546	38	117	240	151	299	247
North Yorkshire	375	8	77	177	113	187	188
Northamptonshire	339	10	55	152	122	175	164
Northumberland	189	7	34	70	78	91	98
North Wales	402	5	43	202	152	231	171
Nottinghamshire	681	31	114	277	259	340	341
Powys	86	4	16	40	26	46	40
Shropshire	271	5	52	124	90	147	124
South East London	409	21	94	173	121	212	197
South Wales	551	18	91	256	186	287	264
South West London	374	13	68	180	113	173	201
South Yorkshire	740	46	125	320	249	394	346
Staffordshire	572	23	122	249	178	298	274
Suffolk	352	11	56	194	91	185	167
Surrey	387	16	74	165	132	179	208
Thames Valley	937	29	145	488	275	439	498
Tyne and Wear	762	34	152	351	225	413	349
Warwickshire	204	4	34	104	62	106	98
West Glamorgan	275	7	32	117	119	148	127
West Midlands	1,684	88	345	720	531	885	799
West Sussex	349	16	65	161	107	177	172
West Yorkshire	1,329	76	283	600	370	674	655
Wiltshire	286	7	50	145	84	140	146

Total	24,771	995	4,530	11,460	7,786	12,575	12,196
Percentage of total	100	4	18.3	46.3	31.4	50.8	49.2

	Political affiliation	Ethnic background
Commission area	Conservative	Labour	Liberal Democrat	Plaid Cymru	Other and uncommitted	White	Black	Asian	Other	Not known
Avon and Somerset	294	191	149	0	274	840	16	9	4	39
Bedfordshire	111	54	39	0	87	258	4	15	5	9
Cambridgeshire	132	84	40	0	89	325	1	4	0	15
Cheshire	178	137	52	1	127	484	2	5	2	2
City of London	42	21	14	0	43	88	12	2	3	15
Cleveland	161	137	41	0	89	372	0	8	3	45
Cumbria	107	66	21	0	112	302	0	1	1	2
Derbyshire	169	116	56	0	97	422	4	8	1	3
Devon and Cornwall	290	111	137	0	198	700	0	2	5	29
Dorset	155	42	73	0	82	334	2	3	0	13
Durham	68	118	19	0	103	301	2	4	0	1
Dyfed	59	60	36	35	50	232	0	0	0	8
East Sussex	159	79	49	0	118	381	1	5	3	15
Essex	262	125	105	0	155	597	6	2	1	41
Gloucestershire	145	39	48	0	62	244	4	5	1	40
Gwent	75	87	21	4	115	285	1	5	0	11
Hampshire	270	147	130	0	240	747	4	9	11	16
Hereford and Worcester	195	95	54	0	64	366	1	4	3	34
Hertfordshire	154	118	64	0	118	413	7	7	2	25
Humberside	188	121	49	0	92	443	0	5	2	0
Inner London	313	252	96	0	128	596	75	15	16	87
Isle of Wight	25	8	10	0	20	58	2	0	0	3
Kent	334	150	131	0	180	664	7	18	7	99
Leicestershire	187	121	69	0	145	476	13	22	7	4
Lincolnshire	172	70	58	2	95	351	0	5	2	39
Middlesex	357	292	94	0	207	729	71	71	23	56
Norfolk	162	102	69	0	108	384	1	3	4	49
North East London	182	194	64	0	106	394	42	33	10	67
North Yorkshire	151	69	58	0	97	353	0	2	4	16
Northamptonshire	173	78	54	0	34	321	7	11	0	0
Northumberland	66	40	26	1	56	189	0	0	0	0
North Wales	139	103	74	50	36	393	1	2	1	5
Nottinghamshire	252	189	78	0	162	632	17	15	5	12
Powys	25	10	20	3	28	84	0	0	0	2
Shropshire	105	64	58	0	44	262	1	2	2	4
South East London	147	95	65	1	101	345	19	14	9	22
South Wales	134	163	76	16	162	519	4	8	6	14
South West London	168	73	78	0	55	237	10	5	6	116
South Yorkshire	214	258	103	0	165	700	10	17	6	7
Staffordshire	210	181	53	0	128	546	1	18	1	6
Suffolk	107	68	52	1	124	344	1	3	4	0
Surrey	162	62	43	0	120	370	1	3	6	7
Thames Valley	359	175	137	0	266	859	23	22	8	25
Tyne and Wear	214	264	102	0	182	697	4	9	7	45
Warwickshire	79	50	42	0	33	191	2	9	1	1
West Glamorgan	83	106	37	10	39	271	0	3	1	0
West Midlands	584	558	195	0	347	1,434	72	103	12	63
West Sussex	126	75	74	0	94	334	3	4	2	6
West Yorkshire	411	440	173	0	305	1,089	33	74	10	123
Wiltshire	119	48	47	0	72	272	3	4	0	7

Total	8,974	6,306	3,413	124	5,954	22,228	490	598	207	1,248
Percentage of total	36.2	25.5	13.8	0.5	24	89.7	2	2.4	0.8	5

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Lay magistrates (Duchy of Lancaster)—1 April 2001

Age Gender

Commission area Total Under 40 40–49 50–59 60–69 Male Female

Greater Manchester 1,931 78 368 898 587 901 940

Lancashire 1,041 21 164 499 357 560 481

Merseyside 992 43 179 424 346 513 479

Political affiliation Ethnic background

Commission area Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Plaid Cymru Other and uncommitted White Black Asian Other Not known

Greater Manchester 577 624 237 0 493 1,789 41 80 18 3

Lancashire 283 246 69 0 443 995 3 34 9 0

Merseyside 278 249 161 0 304 964 8 14 6 0