XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986

ON THE SHORTAGE OF LOCAL OFFICERS IN THE JUDICIAL SERVICE, SIR DAVID SAID THE ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS FOR MAGISTRATES HAD BEEN RELAXED AND DIRECT APPROACHES HAD BEEN MADE TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN THE SERVICE.

HE NOTED THAT SOME HEADWAY HAD BEEN MADE AND THE NUMBER OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS ON LOCAL TERMS OF SERVICE HAD INCREASED FROM 19 TO 35 OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

+IN ADDITION, A REVIEW OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS IS NOW BEING PURSUED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE WITH A VIEW TO ATTRACTING MORE LOCAL OFFICERS TO THE BENCH, + HE SAID.

AS REGARDS OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE TO BUILD OR BUY MORE OF ITS OWN OFFICE.

→AN OFFICE BUILDING PROGRAMME IS MOVING AHEAD, WITH A TARGET OF 70 PER CENT SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY 1991. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PURCHASES OFFICE SPACE AS AND WHEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT A REASONABLE PRICE, HE NOTED.

TALKING OF THE BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS A NECESSARY PART OF THE GARRISON AND WAS FUNDED UNDER THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT,

HE ADDED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WAS NOW EXAMINING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE TERMS ON WHICH CIVILIAN PATIENTS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO IT WITH THE AIM OF PUTTING FORWARD CONCRETE PROPOSALS FOR MORE COST-EFFECTIVE USE AND TO ARRIVE AT FIRM CONCLUSIONS.

ON THE SUGGESTION THAT LEGAL AID SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE LEGAL PROFESSION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE GOVERNMENT BUT WITH THE CONTINUED USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, SIR DAVID SAID THE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECENT REPORT BY AN INTER- DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY.

HE ADDED THAT THE REPORT HAD BEEN SENT TO THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY FOR THE IR VIEWS WHICH WOULD BE INCORPORATED AND COMMENTED UPON IN A DRAFT CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT TO BE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

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