Written question asked by Jeff Ennis (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 April 2001. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 30 April 2001 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many justices of the peace there are in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster broken down by party political affiliation. - Includes fact that will write when database of records on magistrates is updated.

Answer: Mr. Ennis: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many justices of the peace there are in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster broken down by party political affiliation. [158797] Jane Kennedy: There are currently 129 magistrates on the Barnsley bench and 168 magistrates on the Doncaster bench. The figures currently held on party political affiliation are out of date. The database of records held on all 26,000 magistrates for which my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible is being validated at present. As soon as figures for Barnsley and Doncaster are available I will write to my hon. Friend. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to publish a breakdown of the lay magistracy in England and Wales by Commission Area for each balancing criterion (gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation) in his next Judicial Appointments Annual Report which is due in October this year. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

Secondary information