Justice Committee to question Lord Chancellor on the state of the justice system amid extreme pressures on prisons and courts
The Justice Committee will question the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood KC MPduring an evidence session in Parliament on Tuesday, 17 December – her first appearance in front of the Committee.
Meeting details
MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will scrutinise the work of the Justice Secretary on the Government’s first six months in office, and on recent announcements in relation to prison capacity and the criminal courts, including the early release scheme (SDS40) and the Sentencing Review.
The wide-ranging evidence session is expected to touch upon the current pressures facing the justice system, including the courts backlog, funding and staffing issues, plus access to justice and legal aid. Discussion is also expected to focus on youth justice as well as rehabilitation, resettlement and reducing reoffending