HC Deb 02 March 1998 vol 307 cc699-700
11. Mr. Mackinlay

What plans he has to review his Department's responsibilities in relation to the criminal justice system. [30349]

Mr. Straw

As part of the comprehensive spending review, I am chairing a cross-departmental review of the criminal justice system, to consider ways in which the delivery of the Government's objectives for the criminal justice system as a whole can be improved. There are no plans to make changes in departmental responsibilities.

Mr. Mackinlay

Will my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary reflect on the fact that, when the Government's credentials as a modern and constitutionally reforming Administration come to be tested, one consideration will be whether they have been able to restructure the criminal justice system so as to make it much more answerable to the House of Commons? In addition to its core duties in relation to criminal justice, his Department is cluttered by other duties. Moreover, his criminal justice duties are shared with the Lord Chancellor, who combines the post of Minister, judge, Speaker of the House of Lords and interior designer. Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a real case for having a Minister of justice who is answerable to the democratically elected House of Commons?

Mr. Straw

As I said, we have no plans to make changes in departmental responsibilities. I believe that we shall be judged at the next general election by whether we have delivered at a local level on our crime and disorder pledges.

Sir Brian Mawhinney

We all hear what the Home Secretary says, but we all saw Government Front Benchers furiously trying not to laugh their legs off at the Lord Chancellor. This is none the less a serious matter. Given the number of staff that the Lord Chancellor is accumulating at vast public expense, when will the Government announce the setting up of a Department of justice at the expense of the Home Office?

Mr. Straw

I have always enjoyed the humour of my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay), and I have made it clear that there are no plans to make changes in departmental responsibilities. We believe that what matters is the ability of the three Departments involved in the criminal justice system—the Law Officers' Department, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Office—to co-operate effectively, as we are doing, to deliver improved efficiency on the ground.