Ancillary Material - Prime Minister's Speaking Note for the Lord Chancellor [2001-06-08]
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Page 1
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
PM Speaking Note 2
LORD CHANCELLOR’S DEPARTMENT
Appointment: Want you to be Lord Chancellor.
Accommodation: You will of course have the Lord Chancellor’s flat as Speaker of the Lords.
nb. i. could lose flat if Lord Chancellor ceased to be Speaker;
ii. no need to mention salary; already draws it in full.
Special Adviser: Understand you wish to reappoint Gary Hart [marginal note: A peer?]. Am prepared exceptionally to agree this now without a letter (Sir H. Phillips will formally record).
Cabinet Committees: Want you to take over the chairmanship of CRP Committee from me. Also to chair:
Human Rights Committee (CRP(EC))
Freedom of Information Committee (CRP(FOI))
House of Lords Reform Committee (CRP(HL))
Structural changes: Important changes to LCD and Home Office, summarised in note, with immediate effect.
Court Service: Have decided to bring the Court Service and Magistrates’ Courts together with rest of criminal justice system under Home Secretary.
You will however remain responsible for judicial appointments and other judicial matters, legal aid, Criminal Defence Service and will continue to administer some tribunals uncluding immigration appeals tribunals.
Constitution etc from Home Office: Have also decided to transfer many of Home Office’s constitutional responsibilities to LCD. These include Freedom of information, data protection, Human Rights, Channel Islands, Royal, Church of England and hereditary matters.
Arguments for what is proposed:
i. Improving the performance of the criminal justice system is a top priority for this Parliament. [marginal note: ?]
Action required: Crucial to have your support. Know that the judiciary will be worried. Essential that you see the Lord Chief Justice and Master of the Rolls
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
Page 2
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
today to reassure them. Independence of the judiciary not affected. Judicial appointments, Legal Aid and Criminal Defence Service remain with Lord Chancellor.
Next steps: Planning announcement of changes at [time]. Your permanent secretary Hayden Phillips has been briefed and is ready with the details.
8 June 2001
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
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