§ 27. Mr. RosindellTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the continued existence of the office of Lord Chancellor. [161267]
§ Mr. LeslieThe Government have announced their intention to abolish the Office of Lord Chancellor, and introduced legislation to do so on 24 February. The Government believe that it is no longer tenable for a Cabinet Minister to head the judiciary. The Government see this, together with setting up a Supreme Court for the UK independent of the legislature and a new Judicial Appointments Commission, as important steps in the modernisation of our constitution and our judicial system.
§ 28. Mr. George OsborneTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when Ministers in the Department last met the Lord Chief Justice to discuss plans to abolish the position of Lord Chancellor. [161269]
§ Mr. LeslieMy noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice regularly discuss judicial issues and constitutional reform.
154WThey last met to discuss constitutional reform on the 18 December 2003. Subsequent to this meeting, they have also had several telephone and other conversations in which constitutional reform formed a part.