Statement from Justice Committee Chair

• Justice Committee

Within those constraints, it seemed better to proceed imperfectly rather than not at all in holding the Justice Secretary to account on action in the prisons and courts systems.

We're aiming for the maximum transparency possible within the constraints we face.  Live tweets of new information will be put out as the meeting happens.

A press release will be issued asap after it ends about 3.30pm.  And the summary note we're providing will be as full as is possible, with nothing redacted, but in the absence of a normal professional transcript.

For what it's worth, it'll also be provided same afternoon rather than in the 2-4 days for the usual full transcript, and it will be full, reliable and accurate, if not word for word.

The House does not have available capacity to record and broadcast this meeting, I'm afraid, and we find that as frustrating as anyone.

The Committee's fully committed both to scrutinising what's happening and to getting information to the public.  Indeed, it wouldn't be a scrutiny committee if it wasn't committed to maximum public provision of information, since that's one of the reasons it exists.

What we're providing isn't perfect, and I hope the issues currently constraining House of Commons activity can be resolved rapidly. I know that staff are working night and day to ensure we're back as fully and publicly in action as possible as soon as can be managed.

Concerns have been raised about potential loss of the principles of openness and scrutiny.  I share those concerns entirely.

Any such loss would go against what this and other Select Committees stand for and cannot be a long-term option for effective scrutiny.

For now, though, we're having to prevent the perfect being the enemy of the best we can do in rapidly changing circumstances.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
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