Lord Anderson of Ipswich Portrait

Lord Anderson of Ipswich

Crossbench - Life peer

Became Member: 10th July 2018


1 APPG membership (as of 24 Jan 2024)
Rule of Law
1 Former APPG membership
Uyghurs
EU Justice Sub-Committee
2nd Jul 2019 - 23rd Apr 2020


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Anderson of Ipswich has voted in 224 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
(10 debate interactions)
Lord Stewart of Dirleton (Conservative)
Advocate General for Scotland
(8 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Home Office
(88 debate contributions)
Scotland Office
(37 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(18 debate contributions)
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View all Lord Anderson of Ipswich's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Anderson of Ipswich, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


2 Bills introduced by Lord Anderson of Ipswich


A Bill to make provision about mechanisms for promoting and protecting standards of integrity and ethics in the public service; and for connected purposes.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Thursday 7th December 2023
(Read Debate)

A Bill to make provision about mechanisms for promoting and protecting standards of integrity and ethics in the public service; and for connected purposes

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 5th September 2022
(Read Debate)

Lord Anderson of Ipswich has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 36 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
3 Other Department Questions
16th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the terms of reference for the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities; and when were those terms of reference established.

The terms of reference for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were set by the Government and published on 16 July 2020. They are available online on GOV.UK. The Commission submitted its independent report to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Equalities on 31 March 2021.

The report is the work of the independent Commissioners. Ministers and political advisers to the Government did not contribute to the report.

16th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government when drafts of (1) the foreword, and (2) any sections, of the report of the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were first seen by (a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Equalities Minister, (c) any Cabinet Minister, and (d) any political adviser to the Government.

The terms of reference for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were set by the Government and published on 16 July 2020. They are available online on GOV.UK. The Commission submitted its independent report to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Equalities on 31 March 2021.

The report is the work of the independent Commissioners. Ministers and political advisers to the Government did not contribute to the report.

16th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what contribution (1) the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Equalities Minister, and (2) any political advisor to the Government, made to (a) the foreword, and (b) any sections, of the report of the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, prior to its publication on 31 March.

The terms of reference for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were set by the Government and published on 16 July 2020. They are available online on GOV.UK. The Commission submitted its independent report to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Equalities on 31 March 2021.

The report is the work of the independent Commissioners. Ministers and political advisers to the Government did not contribute to the report.

10th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on research-led SMEs of the reported decision to withhold the UK's participation in the Unified Patent Court and the associated Unitary Patent.

Following publication of the Government’s approach to negotiations with the EU on 27th February, the Government will not be seeking continued participation in the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court. Participating in a court that applies EU law and is bound by the CJEU is inconsistent with our aims of becoming an independent self-governing nation.

All businesses, including SMEs, will be able to maintain patents in the UK and challenge or enforce them before UK courts as they do currently.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the Framework Document to be agreed between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Office for Environmental Protection.

Good progress continues to be made in agreeing the Framework Document between Defra and the OEP. We aim for it to be published in Spring 2023.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Sep 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the Common Framework document that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will agree with the Office for Environmental Protection.

We are committed to working collaboratively with the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to finalise the Defra-OEP framework agreement. We are currently in the final stages of negotiations. The purpose of the Framework Document is to set out the broad governance framework within which the OEP and Defra operate. It will reflect the parties' core responsibilities and will describe the governance and accountability framework that applies between the parties, including how the day-to-day relationship works in practice. This will include detail on governance and financial matters, whilst also respecting the provisions in the Environment Act for OEP independence.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Sep 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the implementation of the duty of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to have regard to the need to protect the independence of the Office for Environmental Protection as set out in Schedule 1 of the Environment Act 2022.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has been provided with safeguards to ensure its operational independence from the Government, including a specific duty on the Secretary of State to have regard to the need to protect the OEP’s independence.

The indicative five-year budget for the OEP has been protected by Defra within this spending review period. This ensures the OEP has sufficient funds to carry out its statutory functions and gives the OEP greater certainty of its finances with which to plan its future activities.

The OEP board has set out its strategy and continue to operate independently of Government.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Mar 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any health equipment with constituent parts made using forced labour has entered the UK supply chain since January 2020.

Suppliers appointed to the NHS Supply Chain framework contracts, which supply the majority of medical goods and services into the National Health Service, must comply with the Labour Standards Assurance System or they can be removed from consideration for future opportunities. If there is an allegation of modern slavery practices against a company supplying medical goods or services into the United Kingdom, these are investigated. The Department does not have a record of any breaches of the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 since January 2020. Information on procurement by NHS trusts and foundation trusts is not held centrally.

26th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Professor Philippa Webb’s report prepared for the European Parliamentary Research Service, Legal options for confiscation of Russian state assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine, published in February 2024.

The UK, alongside the G7, has underscored that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The Government is fully committed to working alongside partners to pursue all lawful routes through which immobilised Russian sovereign assets can be used to support Ukraine. In their 24 February statement, G7 Leaders tasked relevant ministries to continue their work to that end and report back ahead of the G7 Summit in June. The Government will keep the House updated on significant developments as appropriate.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Apr 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they keep copies of memorandums of understanding concluded with foreign governments since 1997; and what plans they have, if any, to publish (1) the text of those memorandums of understanding, and (2) a descriptive list of those memorandums of understanding.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update their business Risk Advisory regarding companies operating in Xinjiang to ensure UK companies and individuals are aware of the deteriorating situation in the region.

Our overseas business risk guidance on Xinjiang was last updated on 16 August 2021 and is kept under constant review. The guidance makes clear the extensive evidence of human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang, and urges UK companies to conduct appropriate due diligence and consider their corporate responsibilities when making investment decisions. We expect them to take appropriate action in response.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to support the establishment of, (2) to attend, and (3) to provide evidence to, the independent tribunal established by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC to examine whether the Uighur people are being subjected to genocide.

We have serious concerns about gross violations of human rights occurring in Xinjiang and welcome any work that is rigorous, balanced and raises awareness of the situation faced by Uyghurs and other minorities in China. We are aware of this initiative by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, and will study any resulting report carefully.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July, as recommended by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, to create and apply Magnitsky-style sanctions on individuals, whether state or non-state actors, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the person is involved in serious human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

23rd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July, to invoke China’s international responsibility for alleged violations of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by engaging the inter-State dispute mechanism.

We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

23rd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July, to support the call of the UN independent experts of 26 June for decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China by (1) urging the government of China to invite mandate-holders, including those with a mandate to monitor civil and political rights, to conduct independent missions and to permit those visits to take place in an environment of confidentiality, respect for human rights defenders, and full avoidance of reprisals against those with whom mandate-holders may meet, (2) calling upon the UN Human Rights Council to act with a sense of urgency to take all appropriate measures to monitor Chinese human rights practices, and (3) establishing an impartial and independent United Nations mechanism or a Secretary-General Special Envoy, to closely monitor, analyse and report annually on the human rights situation in China, particularly, in view of the urgency of the situation in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

23rd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or are planning to take, following the recommendation of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its Briefing Paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July, to request that an Advisory Opinion be sought from the International Court of Justice on the allegations highlighted in that paper.

We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

23rd Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding and recommendations of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales in its briefing paper Responsibility of States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China, published on 22 July.

We are aware of the Bar Human Rights Committee report published on 22 July. We are carefully considering its findings. As the Foreign Secretary said during a Statement to the House on 20 July, we have particularly grave concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. We regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including at the UN Human Rights Council in a joint statement with 27 other countries on 30 June.

27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what use, if any, has been made of the power in section 66 of the Immigration Act 2014 to deprive naturalised citizens of their British citizenship even when the consequence is to render them stateless; and what assessment they have made of the utility of that power.

The power to deprive an individual of British citizenship under section 40(4A) of the British Nationality Act 1981 has not been used since its introduction in July 2014. Following the first statutory review of the power, which was published in April 2016, a further review will be undertaken within 12 months of the power first being used.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
17th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to deliver on their commitment in the UK–France Joint Leaders’ Declaration of 10 March to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France.

At the summit in Paris on 10 March 2023 the UK committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France.

We are currently working through the details of implementation and more information, including timescales, will be provided in due course.

This agreement with France will help to strengthen and maintain educational and cultural links with our closest continental neighbour. We will keep the position under review and ensure that we continue to operate our border in the UK's best interests.

10th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a Modern Slavery Risk Register to aid UK companies and individuals to avoid investment in organisations abroad which are alleged to have facilitated modern slavery.

At present there are no plans to introduce a Modern Slavery Risk Register. However, on 24 March 2021, the Government announced a review of the 2014 Modern Slavery Strategy. The review will consider all aspects of the 2014 strategy and the Government’s response, including our approach to supply chains.

In the meantime, to further enhance transparency, the Government launched an online GOV.UK registry for modern slavery statements. This service enables investors, consumers, NGOs and others to scrutinise the effectiveness of the actions being taken and monitor progress across sectors over time. Since launch, over 6,900 statements have been submitted covering over 23,000 organisations on a voluntary basis. In future, it will be mandatory for in scope organisations to submit their statement to the registry, as part of the planned changes to strengthen section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people in each of the last five years who would have been deprived of their citizenship if there had been no requirement to give prior notification.

Prior to the recent High Court decision in the case of D4, the relevant regulations governing service of notice in deprivation cases, provided adequately for a variety of situations, meaning that there had been no cases where the notification requirement had prevented deprivation action from taking place.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were deprived of their citizenship under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 for each year from 2010 to 2018, broken down by (1) the grounds upon which those deprivation orders were made, (2) whether or not the individual had previously been granted refugee status, discretionary leave or humanitarian protection in the UK, (3) whether or not the individual was under the age of 18, and (4) whether the individual was in the UK at the time of the deprivation.

Figures for numbers of conducive deprivation orders, which are made under Section 40(2) of the 1981 British Nationality Act, have been published as part of the HM Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Four reports have been published to date in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020 which provide the number of deprivation of citizenship orders made up until the end of 2018.

Year

Number of Individuals

2010

5

2011

6

2012

5

2013

8

2014

4

2015

5

2016

14

2017

104

2018

21


Figures are provided on an annual basis and we do not break those figures down further into sub-categories.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government when information relating to the use of deprivation of citizenship orders under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, and (3) 2021, will be published.

Figures for numbers of conducive deprivation orders, which are made under Section 40(2) of the 1981 British Nationality Act, have been published as part of the HM Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Four reports have been published to date in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020 which provide the number of deprivation of citizenship orders made up until the end of 2018.

A further publication which includes the more recent data is due to be published shortly.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office on 27 January 2021 (UIN 139991), what assessment they have made of the protected characteristics of those deprived of citizenship; and what plans they have, if any, to collect and publish the data on this.

In order for deprivation on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds to be a consideration, the starting point is an individual’s conduct, that the individual is a terrorist or an extremist, or involved in espionage, war crimes, serious organised crime or similarly dangerous activities, in order to meet the ‘conducive to the public good’ test.

Figures for numbers of conducive deprivation orders, which are made under Section 40(2) of the 1981 British Nationality Act, have been published as part of the HM Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Four reports have been published to date in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Figures are provided on an annual basis and we do not break those figures down further into sub-categories.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
5th Jan 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many appeals against deprivation of citizenship orders under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 have been made in each of the last five years; and how many of those appeals were upheld.

Figures for numbers of conducive deprivation orders, which are made under Section 40(2) of the 1981 British Nationality Act (BNA 1981), have been published as part of the HM Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Four reports have been published to date in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020 which provide the number of deprivation of citizenship orders made up until the end of 2018.

Figures are provided on an annual basis and we do not break those figures down further into sub-categories. However, data on the number of people who appealed against a deprivation of British citizenship decision under both Section 40(2) and 40(3) of the BNA 1981 has been published. The table shows a breakdown by year of appeals lodged between 05/03/2011 and 31/12/2018 against deprivation decisions and orders.

Year

No of people who lodged an appeal

2011

5

2012

5

2013

10

2014

29

2015

37

2016

41

2017

37

2018

88

Total

252

The following notes should be considered when viewing this data:

  1. These statistics have been taken from a live operational database. As such, numbers may change as information on that system is updated.
  2. Data extracted on 17/05/2021.
  3. Date relates to the number of people who lodged an appeal between 05/03/2011 and 31/12/2018 against a decision made on a deprivation case.
  4. Data relates to main applicants only.

A number of the appeals in relation to deprivations under Section 40(2) of the BNA 1981 are ongoing. Therefore, we are unable to provide a partial figure of upheld appeals whilst litigation is ongoing.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards arranging for the report into citizenship removal resulting in statelessness over the three-year period to 29 July 2018 that is required by section 40B of the British Nationality Act 1981.

The report required by Section 40B of the British Nationality Act 1981 relates to the Secretary of State’s use of the power to deprive an individual of British citizenship under section 40A(4A), which to date has not been used.

The next review of the power will be commissioned once a suitable person has been identified to undertake the review.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
9th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the figures presented in section 5.9 of the HM Government Transparency Report 2018: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers (Cm 9609), published on 23 July 2018, (1) how many UK citizens were deprived of British citizenship under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 in 2018 and 2019; and (2) when the next transparency report on disruptive and investigatory powers will be published.

The HM Government transparency report on disruptive powers 2018-19 was published 19 March this year and confirms that 21 individuals were deprived of British citizenship under section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 in 2018. Figures for 2019 will be available in the following transparency report on disruptive powers which will be published in due course.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
3rd Feb 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons formerly resident in the UK are known to have returned to the UK after travelling to the so-called Islamic State in Iraq or Syria; how many such persons have been subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures and/or Temporary Exclusion Orders; how many such persons have been convicted of terrorist offences since their return; how many such convictions are for offences committed while abroad with the so-called Islamic State; and how many such convictions are for offences committed after their return to the UK.

The Government’s number one priority remains the safety and security of its citizens. All of those who have returned have been investigated and the majority have been assessed to pose no, or a low security risk. There have been around 40 convictions of individuals following their return from Syria, for a range of offences connected to their activities overseas or subsequent counter-terrorism investigations.

There are a number of tools available to law enforcement and security agencies to manage the threat posed by returning UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activity abroad including Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs) and Temporary Exclusion Orders (TEOs).

The total number of TEOs imposed in 2017, the first year the power was used, was nine. As at 31 May 2018, there were eight TPIM notices in force, seven of which related to British Citizens. These figures were published in the 2018 Disruptive and Investigatory Powers Transparency Report. Due to national security considerations, it would not be appropriate to provide a further breakdown of these figures.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
20th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the policy report by Patrick O’Brien and Ben Yong, Work in Judicial Retirement, published in June.

There is a longstanding convention that prohibits former holders of salaried judicial office from returning to private legal practice. This is reflected in the terms and conditions of service which apply on appointment to judicial office, which state that candidates accept appointment on the understanding that it is “intended for the remainder of a person’s professional life” and that “following termination of their appointment they will not return to private practice as a barrister or a solicitor".

The Government has noted the report, “Work in Judicial Retirement”, which relates to judges in the High Court and above and the longstanding convention prohibiting salaried judges from returning to legal practice. The Government has also noted the evidence of Lord Burnett, the then Lord Chief Justice, to the Justice Select Committee in 2018, that the convention “is part and parcel of ensuring, and always has been, that the standing of our judiciary is very high indeed.”

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
20th Nov 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what rules, guidance or conventions they consider to be applicable to the provision of professional legal services, including advocacy, legal representation and the giving of legal advice, by retired UK judges.

There is a longstanding convention that prohibits former holders of salaried judicial office from returning to private legal practice. This is reflected in the terms and conditions of service which apply on appointment to judicial office, which state that candidates accept appointment on the understanding that it is “intended for the remainder of a person’s professional life” and that “following termination of their appointment they will not return to private practice as a barrister or a solicitor".

The Government has noted the report, “Work in Judicial Retirement”, which relates to judges in the High Court and above and the longstanding convention prohibiting salaried judges from returning to legal practice. The Government has also noted the evidence of Lord Burnett, the then Lord Chief Justice, to the Justice Select Committee in 2018, that the convention “is part and parcel of ensuring, and always has been, that the standing of our judiciary is very high indeed.”

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
18th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their response to Sir Duncan Ouseley’s independent report on the operation of the closed material procedure under the Justice and Security Act 2013, which was carried out pursuant to section 13 of the Act and laid before Parliament in November 2022.

The Government is carefully considering the recommendations made by Sir Duncan Ouseley in his Independent Report on the Operation of Closed Material Procedures under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and is working to establish how any recommendations that we take forward could be sustainably and effectively implemented. Subject to this detailed ongoing work, the Government aims to publish its response to Sir Duncan’s report by early 2024.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
30th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to prepare and lay before Parliament the annual reports, required by section 3A of the Law Commissions Act 1965, on the extent to which Law Commission recommendations were implemented for the reporting years (1) 2018–19, (2) 2019–20, (3) 2020–21, (4) 2021–22, and (5) 2022–23.

A draft of the Government’s report on the implementation of Law Commission recommendations is currently being prepared and is expected to be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable this year. It will provide an update on the implementation status of all relevant Law Commission recommendations since the report was last published in 2018.

Lord Bellamy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards appointing a reviewer to conduct the five-year review into the operation of sections 6 to 11 of the Justice and Security Act 2013.

A Reviewer has not yet been appointed. I can however advise that discussions are taking place on the appointment of a Reviewer and the establishment of the five-year Review. Both the appointment of the Reviewer and the Review itself will be brought forward as soon as possible.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)