29. To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress she has made in increasing diversity among magistrates. (100542)

The proportion of minority ethnic magistrates stood at just over 7 per cent. at the start of 2006. Magistrates under 40 stood at just over 4 per cent. in 2006. There remains a roughly even split on gender. We will continue our efforts to ensure magistrates reflect the diverse communities they serve.

34. To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make an assessment of the merits of raising the retirement age for magistrates. (100547)

The magistrates retirement age is set at 70 under the Courts Act 2003. It is our policy to increase judicial diversity and it is particularly important that magistrates, whose great strength is that they are local people delivering local justice, reflect the diverse communities they serve. Nationally, 80 per cent. of magistrates are over 50. We need to recruit substantially more magistrates under the age of 50, and allowing magistrates to sit beyond 70 would work against this important objective.