To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities are currently (i) high court judges, (ii) county court judges, (iii) circuit judges and (iv) chairpersons of industrial tribunals. [31474]

On 1 June 1995 there were six female High Court judges, 31 female circuit judges and eight female full-time chairmen of industrial tribunals. On the same date there were, according to the best information we have available, no High Court judges of ethnic minority origin, four circuit judges of ethnic minority origin and two full-time chairmen of industrial tribunals of ethnic minority origin. Circuit judges sitting in the county court are included in the circuit judge figures.