SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 3Transfer of appointment functions to Her Majesty

High Court Masters and Registrars

I13

1

Section 89 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54) (masters and registrars) is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (1), for the words from “the Lord Chancellor” to the end substitute “ Her Majesty. ”

3

After that subsection insert—

1A

The maximum number of appointments under subsection (1) is such as may be determined from time to time by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Treasury.

4

For subsection (3) substitute—

3

Her Majesty shall, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, appoint a person to each office listed in the first column of the table in subsection (3C) (“a senior office”).

3A

A person may be appointed to a senior office only if—

a

he holds the office in the corresponding entry in the second column of that table (“the qualifying office”), or

b

he does not hold the qualifying office but could be appointed to it in compliance with section 88.

3B

Where a person who is to be appointed to a senior office meets the condition in subsection (3A)(b) he shall, when appointed to the senior office, also be appointed to the qualifying office.

3C

This is the table referred to in subsections (3) and (3A)—

Senior office

Qualifying office

Senior Master of the Queen's Bench Division

Master of the Queen's Bench Division

Chief Chancery Master

Master of the Chancery Division

Chief Taxing Master

Taxing master of the Senior Courts

Chief Bankruptcy Registrar

Registrar in bankruptcy of the High Court

Senior District Judge of the Family Division

Registrar of the Principal Registry of the Family Division

5

Before subsection (8) insert—

7A

A person appointed under subsection (1) is to be paid such salary, and a person appointed to a senior office is to be paid such additional salary, as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Treasury.

7B

A salary payable under or by virtue of this section—

a

may in any case be increased, but

b

may not, in the case of a salary payable in respect of an office listed in column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 or of a senior office, be reduced,

by a determination or further determination under this section.