It shall be lawful for Her Majesty to appoint a F2person who has a 7 year general qualification, within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990,to be, during Her Majesty’s pleasure, a whole-time stipendiary magistrate in any commission area or areas outside the inner London area and the City of London, and to appoint more than one such magistrate in the same area or areas.

A person so appointed to be a magistrate in any commission area shall by virtue of his office be a justice of the peace for that area.

Any appointment of a stipendiary magistrate under this section shall be of a person recommended to Her Majesty by the Lord Chancellor, and a stipendiary magistrate appointed under this section shall not be removed from office except on the Lord Chancellor’s recommendation.

The number of stipendiary magistrates appointed under this section shall not at any time exceed forty or such larger number as Her Majesty may from time to time by Order in Council specify.

Her Majesty shall not be recommended to make an Order in Council under subsection (4) above unless a draft of the Order has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House.