Access to justice, judicial staffing and modernisation: Lord Chancellor to give evidence to Lords Constitution Committee
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will take evidence from the Lord Chancellor David Gauke on Wednesday 1 May, in a session to discuss issues including judicial staffing, funding of the justice system, access to justice and modernisation.
Appearing in Committee Room 1 at 10.30am, the Lord Chancellor may be asked questions including:
- How are you working with the judiciary and the Judicial Appointments Commission to address the shortfall in the recruiting of quality judges?
- Does the Ministry of Justice have sufficient funding to provide the resources the legal system needs to operate efficiently and effectively
- Are you concerned that criminal barristers are threatening to refuse to work for the Crown Prosecution Service due to the level of fees they receive? What steps are you taking to address this?
- Recent data from the Legal Aid Agency has shown that parts of England and Wales have little or no provision for housing legal aid services. What assessment have you made of the situation and what action are you taking to address it?
- The 2017 Queen's Speech said that “Legislation will also be introduced to modernise the courts system”. What legislation is necessary to reform and modernise the courts and when do you expect to make progress with it?
