§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 7 July (WA 1), why it is more appropriate to keep responsibility for the content of the criminal law with the Home Secretary rather than with a Minister of Justice with responsibility for the whole of English law, criminal as well as civil. [HL3901]
§ The Lord ChancellorNo one department of state, or Secretary of State for that matter, could ever sensibly have responsibility for the whole of English law. In relation to the criminal law, we believe it is more appropriate that one ministry, the Home Office, should be responsible and have as its primary focus the criminal law, fighting crime and responsibility for the police. It provides a firm base for the criminal justice system and that, together with the joint working between the Home Office, my department and that of my noble and learned friend the Attorney-General, will deliver real improvements in bringing the guilty to justice quicker and in public confidence in the system.