Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to achieve a representative magistracy; and how many magistrates are (a) BAME, (b) women and (c) BAME women.

Magistrates play a vital role in our justice system and the latest statistics show there has been progress in achieving a more representative magistracy. As at 1 April 2018, 12% of serving magistrates declared themselves as BAME, broadly in line with the general population, and 55% of magistrates were women. Of the female magistrates appointed as at 1 April 2018, 11% were BAME.

We remain committed to increasing diversity even further and are working closely with Judicial Office and HMCTS to review the attraction, recruitment and retention of magistrates.

We have been building working relationships with a number of organisations, such as Operation Black Vote, with the aim of launching targeted campaigns for more BAME magistrates. Working groups have also been established and promotional materials developed to raise the profile of the magistracy particularly amongst employers.

We are also implementing a national end-to-end recruitment process that will ensure every applicant to the magistracy is treated equally.