Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Monday, 11 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 October 2004. It was answered by Chris Leslie (Labour) on Thursday, 14 October 2004 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what assessment has been made of the effects of the practice of advertising vacancies for district judges (crime) on the number of women applicants with families.

Answer: Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects of the practice of advertising vacancies for district judges (crime) on the number of women applicants with families. [191033] Mr. Leslie: None. However, on 13 October my Department launched a consultation paper, "Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary", which takes a radical look at the steps needed to widen the pool from which applicants for judicial appointment are drawn, while continuing to make appointments on merit. It examines the extent of, and the reasons for, the lack of diversity in the judiciary and the barriers that may discourage people from applying for judicial appointment. Information and communication strategies and the appointments process are among the areas covered by the paper. Comments and suggestions are invited by 21 January 2005.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 425 c359W; 191033
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Applications Advertising Women Judges Public appointments Magistrates' courts Vacancies
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk