Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many newly appointed magistrates are awaiting the start of their judicial training.

Magistrates' training is a matter for the independent judiciary. Data about the provision and completion of training is held by the Judicial College on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice.

New magistrates are appointed on a rolling basis and are invited to book their induction training by the Judicial College as soon as the College is notified of their appointment. Induction training comprises a number of elements completed over a period of weeks and training places are planned on the basis of anticipated appointments. Of those magistrates appointed between 1 April and 30 June 2026, 27% have fully completed their induction training, 49% have booked and 24% have yet to book.

The College does not hold analysis of data on the time between appointment and the start of training for magistrates appointed in 2025-26.