Constitutional implications for Parliament and courts of COVID-19 – evidence session
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will hear from two leading Peers and a legal expert tomorrow (Wednesday 10 June) as it continues to explore the constitutional implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee will hear from:
At 10.30am:
- Lord Judge, Convenor of Crossbench Peers
- Baroness Walmsley, Co-Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
Possible questions and topics of discussion include:
- What are the benefits, drawbacks and challenges of virtual proceedings for the House of Lords?
- How effectively has the Government engaged with Parliament during the pandemic?
- Has Parliament been able to scrutinise adequately the Government's use of emergency powers during the pandemic?
- What aspects of virtual or hybrid proceedings should be retained after the end of social distancing and for what purposes?
At 11.15am:
- Natalie Byrom, Director of Research, Legal Education Foundation
Possible questions and topics of discussion include:
- How has the justice system coped in recent months?
- What has been the impact of the pandemic on the number of proceedings taking place and the number adjourned?
- What is the likely impact on the backlog of cases and how should that be addressed?
- What is the impact of remote proceedings for legal professionals?
The session will be broadcast live on Parliament TV.
