Supreme Court: Retirement Age

Baroness Scotland of Asthal Excerpts

Monday 12th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

These are very powerful arguments, which may be why the Lord Chancellor is looking at the matter. However, as I said, in parallel with the concern to retain the talent of the Supreme Court, there is, or should be, a similar concern to ensure that our Supreme Court better reflects our society in the 21st century.

[Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

Bearing in mind the comment just made by the noble Lord that breadth is important, and given that so many women have to take time out of their career, does he agree that one of the ways of ensuring that breadth is by identifying talent—not age or gender—as the criterion which should determine appointment to and retention of these posts?

[Lord McNally]

I treat that intervention with all the respect it deserves—and in that I do not make a joke