Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many magistrates there are currently in England and Wales; how many more magistrates are needed in England and Wales; and what are their plans to (1) recruit more magistrates, and (2) ensure equality of access to justice throughout England and Wales.

There are currently 15,003 magistrates in England and Wales.

We work with the judiciary to analyse both current and future judicial supply and demand across our courts and tribunals, factoring in planned recruitment, retirements and other departures.

As of 1 April 2018 there were 15,003 magistrates in England and Wales. For the year 2018/19, 1,018 people will have been recommended for appointment however this figure is unlikely to sustain the national complement of magistrates at the 1 April level. We are therefore increasing recruitment activity and are developing a three-year strategy, focusing on increasing diversity and social mobility, to support the recruitment of sufficient numbers to manage workloads.