Magistrates Mandatory Retirement Age
2020-11-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from a consultation by the Ministry of Justice on increasing the retirement age for judges and magistrates, which closed on October 16th.
What plans does he have to raise the mandatory retirement age for magistrates?
The Ministry of Justice has been running a consultation on increasing the retirement age for judges and magistrates. The consultation closed on 16 October. Over 1,000 responses were received and we will respond formally very shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plans or intentions regarding raising the mandatory retirement age are not detailed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from a private Member's Bill by the MP to raise the retirement age of magistrates to 75, which has faced delays. The consultation on this matter closed over two weeks ago.
Given that his own consultation on raising the retirement age for magistrates closed over two weeks ago, can he give some hope that legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity through my Bill or other means?
My hon. Friend is quite right; we are losing something like 1,000 magistrates a year as they turn 70, often very experienced magistrates who still have a great deal to offer the justice system. The consultation had two options: raising the age to 72 or to 75. I strongly commend my hon. Friend for his patience, persistence and perseverance in trying to get his private Member's Bill through, often in the face of somewhat unfortunate headwinds, on private Members' Bill Fridays. This is an urgent issue. As soon as we have formulated a response to the consultation, we will certainly be looking to legislate via whatever vehicle is available as quickly as we possibly can.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or legislative vehicle for raising the retirement age is not provided.
Under Review
Response accuracy