Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Monday, 21 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 25 February 2005. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Friday, 25 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the training budget for (a) lay magistrates and (b) High Court judges is in 2005. - Inc fact that info involves disproportionate cost.

Answer: John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the training budget for (a) lay magistrates and (b) High Court judges is in 2005. [218037] Mr. Lammy: Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), an independent body chaired by Lord Justice Keene. Training for magistrates is paid for and delivered at local level in 42 administrative areas. The budget for magistrates training is not ring fenced and currently cannot be isolated from the overall grant allocation made by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to the Magistrates Courts Service. The JSB provides a core continuing professional education curriculum, the aim of which is to strengthen and deepen the skills and knowledge of existing judicial office-holders. High Court judges are invited to relevant continuation seminars. In addition, the JSB provides a programme of regular after-court seminars for the senior judiciary. There is no ring-fenced budget for High Court judges' training and the resources devoted to it can only be identified at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information