To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will describe the procedure whereby the Lord Chief Justice is appointed;(2) if he will list the parties consulted before the nomination of the new Lord Chief Justice was submitted;(3) what consideration was given to the custom and practice that an outgoing Government should not seek to bind its successors before appointing the new Lord Chief Justice.

As with other senior appointments to the judiciary, the Lord Chief Justice is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister following confidential consultations in appropriate quarters. It has never been the practice to list the parties consulted nor to reveal the nature and source of any advice or recommendations received.