Courts Act 1971

PART IV Officers and Accommodation

26 Masters and registrars to be appointed by Lord Chancellor

(1) On and after the appointed day the following officers shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and salaries.—

(a) the masters, assistant masters and registrars specified in Part I of Schedule 3 to the Judicature Act 1925, other than the Master of the Court of Protection (for whose appointment by the Lord Chancellor provision is made by section 100 of the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959);

(b) the Queen's coroner and attorney and master of the Crown Office;

(c) the registrar, assistant registrars and deputy assistant registrars of criminal appeals ;

(d) the admiralty registrar;

(e) chancery registrars and assistant chancery registrars; and

(f) district probate registrars.

(2) The person appointed to the office of Queen's coroner and attorney and master of the Crown Office shall, by virtue of his appointment, be a master of the Supreme Court (Queen's Bench Division).

(3) In section 122 of the Judicature Act 1925 (which relates to certain additional duties of the senior master of the Queen's Bench Division) for the words " The senior master " there shall be substituted the words " The Lord Chancellor shall appoint one of the masters " and after the word " Division)" there shall be inserted the words " to be the senior master and the person so appointed ".

(4) In section 128A of the Judicature Act 1925 (which relates to the office of district probate registrar) for any reference in subsection (2) or subsection (3) to the President of the Family Division there shall be substituted a reference to the Lord Chancellor.

27 Administrative and other court staff

The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and salaries, appoint such officers and other staff for the Supreme Court (including the district probate registries) and county courts as appear to him necessary—

(a) for setting up a unified administrative court service, and

(b) for discharging any functions in those courts conferred by or under this or any other Act on officers so appointed, and

(c) generally for carrying out the administrative work of those courts.

28 Provision of accommodation

(1) The Secretary of State for the Environment may with the approval of the Treasury provide, equip, maintain and manage such courts, offices, buildings, judges' lodgings and other accommodation as may be necessary or desirable for carrying on the business of the Supreme Court and county courts.

(2) It is hereby declared that the expression " land necessary for the public service " in—

(a) section 2 of the [1852 c. 28.] Commissioners of Works Act 1852 (acquisition by agreement), and

(b) section 29(1) of the [1968 c. 72.] Town and Country Planning Act 1968 (power of the said Secretary of State to acquire compulsorily land necessary for the public service),

includes any land which is required to discharge the duties of the said Secretary of State under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State for the Environment may, if he thinks fit, in discharging his duties under this section enter into arrangements with a local or other public authority for the provision of accommodation to be used in part for the purposes set out in this section, and in part for other purposes, including in particular the sittings of a magistrates' court.

(4) Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect as respects premises formerly used for business of the abolished courts, and judges' lodgings.

29 Accommodation in City of London

(1) The courthouse and accommodation which up to the appointed day have been respectively known as the Central Criminal Court and the Mayor's and City of London Court shall continue to be known by those names, and it shall be the duty of the Common Council of the City of London (in this section referred to as " the Common Council") to continue to make the said premises available for use for the sittings and business of those courts respectively.

(2) The Common Council shall not undertake any alteration or extension of the buildings or accommodation which they are to make available for the purpose of the said courts, or provide further accommodation for that purpose, without the consent of the Lord Chancellor.

(3) The duties imposed by this section on the Common Council may at any time be varied, restricted or terminated by agreement between the Lord Chancellor and the Common Council.

30 Advisory committees

The Lord Chancellor may constitute, on a permanent or temporary basis, one or more advisory committees to advise him on such questions relating to the Supreme Court and county courts as he may from time to time refer to them, and shall appoint the members of any such committee with regard to their knowledge of the work of the courts and social conditions.