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18 Jun 2007 : Column 1580W—continued
Departments: Public Relations
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much money her Department plans to spend in the 2007-08 financial year on public relations. [141793]
Ms Harman: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007. Its planned expenditure on public relations through external public relations companies from 9 May 2007 is:
£25,000 to increase the public's understanding of the work of courts and their role in the justice system;
£50,000 to increase public awareness of the new Mental Capacity Act 2005;
£12,500 for a public awareness campaign about the legal status of cohabitation;
£12,500 to publicise the Family Mediation Helpline;
£55,000 for a public awareness campaign on human rights.
The Ministry's press office also undertakes proactive public relations activity as part of its wider media relations remit, but this activity cannot be costed out separately.
Driving Offences: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many people in the London Borough of Bexley have received fixed penalty notices for using a mobile phone whilst driving in each of the last five years. [142775]
Mr. Hanson: Data on police action for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving are not collected centrally by local authority area.
Family Courts
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on family courts. [143728]
Ms Harman: I have regular discussions and meetings about the family courts with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, who has responsibility for Children, Young People and Families. My hon. Friend is also a member of the Ministerial Group on Care Proceedings, which meets quarterly and which I chair.
We both attended a meeting of the London Family Justice Council on 11 June 2007 to observe the work of the council.
Judges: Public Appointments
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many (a) Crown court, (b) County court, (c) High court and (d) Court of Appeal judges have been appointed in each of the last five years; how each was appraised; what criteria are adopted for each appointment; whether consideration is given to a candidate's political views; how many candidates were rejected; and if she will make a statement. [142822]
Ms Harman: The following tables set out the numbers of applicants for, and appointments to, full-time judicial posts (not including magistrates) in the courts system for the five-year period 2001-02 to 2005-06, plus appointments to the fee-paid position of recorder. It is not possible to identify separately appointments to the Crown court and county court as judges on the Circuit Bench and recorders are deployed to either. District judges sit in the county court only. Members of the full-time judiciary are not subject to formal appraisal after appointment.
In addition to the minimum criteria set out in law for appointment to each level of post, applicants must demonstrate that they have the qualities and abilities needed to successfully take on judicial office, including relevant knowledge and experience, independence, professionalism, judgment and people skills. Information about candidates' political views is neither sought nor taken into account in the selection process. Since April 2006, the independent Judicial Appointments Commission has had the responsibility for appointments and has set out the qualities and abilities it believes are necessary for judicial office. These are: intellectual capacity, personal qualities, the ability to understand and treat fairly, authority and communication skills and efficiency.
| Court of Appeal | |
| Appointed | |
| High Court | ||
| Applicants | Appointed | |
| Senior Circuit Judge | |||
| Applicants | Appointed | Rejected | |
| Circuit Bench | ||||
| Applicants | Appointed | Reserve | Rejected | |
| (1) No general competition was held in 2002-2003. However, 39 vacancies arose in this period, 38 posts were filled by candidates who were on the circuit bench reserve list established after the 2001-02 competition. | ||||
| District Bench | ||||
| Applicants | Appointed | Reserve | Rejected | |
| Recorder | ||||
| Applicants | Appointed | Reserve | Rejected | |
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will list the (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instruments which regulate (i) the appointment and (ii) renewal of appointment of (A) Crown court, (B) county court, (C) High court and (D) Court of Appeal judges; what changes have been made to each since their enactment; what further amendments are planned; and if she will make a statement. [142823]
Ms Harman: The principal legislation which regulates the appointment and renewal (where relevant) of salaried and fee-paid judicial office holders to the Crown court, county court, high court and Court of Appeal is set out as follows:
The Courts Act 1971
The Supreme Court Act 1981
The County Courts Act 1984
The Courts and Legal Services Act 1990
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Sections 76-84 of the Constitutional Reform Act govern the selection process for Lords Justices of Appeal. Sections 85-93 of the Constitutional Reform Act govern the selection process for the appointment of high court judges, circuit judges, recorders and judges who preside in the county court.
Appointments to salaried judicial office in the Crown court, county court, high court and Court of Appeal are made until the statutory retirement age is reached. For fee-paid appointments ie recorders and deputy district judges, it is usual for these appointments to be made on a five-year renewable term until retirement under section 21 of the Courts Act as amended by the Courts and Legal Services Act and the Constitutional Reform Act.
Changes in the qualifications for appointment to these offices are contained in the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Bill currently before this House. There are currently no plans to further amend the legislation regulating the appointment and re-appointment of judges to the courts listed.
Legal Services Bill
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury on the impact of the Legal Services Bill, if enacted, on the competitiveness of the British legal services industry. [143166]
Bridget Prentice: Officials have been in regular contact with their opposite numbers in other departments regarding the Government’s proposals to reform the regulation and delivery of legal services. There has also been Ministerial contact where appropriate.
While the Treasury are clearly concerned to ensure that the appropriateness of the financial provisions in the Bill, they are also concerned to ensure that the Bill provides for greater competition and innovation in the legal sector. Specifically on competitiveness, in summer 2006 my officials participated in a series of high-level discussion groups organised by HM Treasury aimed at examining the international competitiveness of London as a financial centre. This included a focus on legal services and forthcoming changes such as the Legal Services Bill. It is of course paramount to all in Government that we ensure the continued competitiveness of UK legal services industry, both domestically and internationally.
Magistrates
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many magistrates are expected to leave the magistracy in financial year 2007-08. [142332]
Ms Harman: 710 magistrates are expected to retire during the financial year 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. The number of magistrates leaving for all reasons (including resignation, death etc.) varies widely but averages approximately 1,500 per annum.
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