Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March to Question 164329 on reinstating recently retired magistrates under 75 years of age who wish to rejoin the Bench, if he will set up an application process based on establishing a regional pool of magistrates who can (i) be called upon at short notice to support different courts in a given area, and (ii), in the case of highly experienced, recently retired Presiding Justices, assist in the conducting of JP appraisals.  [170517]

[Due for Answer on 22 March.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration Compliance and Courts (Chris Philp):  When the new mandatory retirement age comes into force, there will be a transitional provision to enable retired magistrates to apply to return to the bench, subject to business need. The process by which such applications are to be made and considered will be set out in due course.