Clause 11 - Resignation and removal of lay justices
Courts Bill [Lords]
10:15 am
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 15, in
clause 11, page 6, line 23, after 'satisfied', insert 'on reasonable grounds'.
The amendment would simply introduce a test of reasonableness. It is a small amendment, but we think that it ought to be made clear that the Lord Chancellor should have reasonable grounds for believing that lay justices are
''declining or neglecting to take a proper part''
in the exercise of their functions as justices of the peace. It is a small point, but it is important that the Bill should not say simply, ''if he is satisfied'', but that he should be satisfied ''on reasonable grounds''. I hope that the Government will not resist such a small and eminently reasonable amendment.