Lords to question Lord Chancellor on rule of law and judicial independence
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will next week take evidence from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling MP, as part of its inquiry into the office of Lord Chancellor.
The committee will hear evidence from Mr Grayling at 10.30am on Wednesday 15 October in committee room 1 of the House of Lords.
Areas the session is expected to cover include:
- How is the role of Lord Chancellor distinct from that of Secretary of State for Justice? Is part of the Lord Chancellor's role to defend constitutional and legal principles in government?
- How does the Lord Chancellor defend the rule of law and judicial independence in practice?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Lord Chancellor being a lawyer?
- Is there sufficient legal support for the Lord Chancellor in the Ministry of Justice for him to be able to identify threats to the rule of law and judicial independence?
- Should the office of Lord Chancellor be held by a Secretary of State with other responsibilities?
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
