asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the joint Home Office and Lord Chancellor's Department research into stipendiary and lay magistrates, which was announced in November 1999. [HL167]

The research which was jointly commissioned by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Office last year to assess the relative costs, effectiveness and other benefits and disadvantages of the lay and professional judiciary in the magistrates' courts has been published today under the title The judiciary in the magistrates' courts. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and are also available on the Home Office website.The report has been passed to Lord Justice Auld to inform his review of the work of the criminal courts, the conclusions of which are expected in the New Year.