Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) on Thursday, 14 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 October 2004. It was answered by Chris Leslie (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 October 2004 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many sitting lay magistrates there were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: how many sitting lay magistrates there were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [192199] Mr. Leslie: The number of sitting lay magistrates in 1997 and 2003 in England and Wales were: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year end1 2England and Wales 31 December 1997 30,361 31 March 2003 28,344 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures include the Duchy of Lancaster. 2 Note: record-keeping changed to financial years in 2000-01.

Secondary information