New justice secretary Liz Truss was giving little away as she faced questions before the Commons justice committee today.
The lord chancellor (pictured) set out her priorities as prisons, ensuring access to justice and the new British bill of rights – but gave little in the way of firm commitments.
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MPs on the committee toiled for around 90 minutes but were unable to get any detailed steer on policy or what proposals for prison reform, courts and human rights she may be considering.
Truss, who succeeded Michael Gove in mid-July, acknowledged she was not keeping committee members happy, adding: ‘I sense the committee’s frustration but it’s early days and we won’t want to commit to something which won’t work.’
On the issue of court fees, Truss said she would have to look more at what impact they have had.
The review of employment tribunal fees, which was supposed to be published last year, will be out ‘shortly’, while a question on any review of civil legal aid cuts was met by the standard response that provision in England and Wales compares favourably with other countries.
‘In principle we do have a system which is generously funded,’ she added.
Truss confirmed that the UK would remain a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights but that the government would repeal the Human Rights Act.
Quizzed by Conservative member Alex Chalk on what the point of such a move would be, Truss replied: ‘These are precisely the kind of details that will be discussed in the proposal. We are in danger of discussing what the proposal might be.’
Asked by former solicitor and Conservative member Alberto Costa MP if she has a view on further reform of legal service regulation, Truss responded: ‘I don’t. It is something we will be looking at.’
By contrast her predecessor Michael Gove told his first justice committee hearing that regulators were ‘tripping over themselves’ and pledged to review the Legal Services Act.
On another Gove initiative, Truss said she was still ‘interested’ in problem-solving courts despite reports she was ready to drop plans to develop them.
And a moment of silence ensued when she was asked to expand on the government’s plans for prison reform, pledged in this year’s Queen’s speech.
The Ministry of Justice later said it remains ‘fully committed’ to legislating on prison reform and will come forward with plans 'in due course'.
Tight-lipped Truss keeps committee guessing
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