Important work ahead.

The Justice Committee examined learning from inquests and the case for a national oversight mechanism in a public hearing.

@DebatINQUEST from @INQUEST_ORG told the committee that organisations and institutions need to do better and follow up with bereaved families.

As Justice Select Committee Chair, I won’t hold back from asking the questions our justice system needs answered.

But it felt only fair to answer a few myself, too…

Farage has spent years telling us Trump has the answers.

These midterm results suggest otherwise.

The Budget backs Derby with £2.5 billion for the next generation of Rolls-Royce engines.

But we also need investment in justice. With 1,000 people leaving prison homeless every month, ending rough sleeping and breaking the cycle of reoffending must go hand in hand.

With the pressure and ongoing crisis in our prisons and courts, the Justice budget needs additional funding so that people aren't waiting years for justice and the cycle of offending can be broken.

Watch the Chair of the Justice Committee @catkinson80 react to the Budget.

The Autumn Budget and Spending Review provides a key opportunity for the Government to match its justice system reform ambitions with the resources required to deliver them.

The Justice Committee has written to Justice Secretary @AlexJJNorris.

Victims should not have to make their lives smaller. It is offenders whose freedom should be restricted.

My question to the Prisons Minister today:

A stable home on release helps prevent further crime and means fewer victims.

Yet around 1,000 people a month left prison homeless last year.

Today, I pressed the Government to use the new £432 million rough sleeping funding to break that cycle and make our communities safer.

My first “Order, order!” as Justice Select Committee Chair and plenty happening across the city - including some very big news for Derby.

Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to 👇

Working full-time on minimum wage can leave you earning too much for legal aid, yet unable to afford a lawyer.

I’ve tabled an amendment to raise legal aid thresholds before more cases move to magistrates’ courts. Your access to justice shouldn’t depend on your bank balance.

It is welcome that the Government has listened to concerns about jury trial reforms.
But with magistrates’ court backlogs already going up, a clear plan is needed to meet the increasing demand.
I look forward to the Government response to the Justice Committee’s report on this.

.@UKLabour is giving breathing space now and hope for the future:
🚌The £2 bus fare cap
⚡VAT off electricity bills this winter
🏠A route to a first home with a 2.5% deposit
🏬Funding to revive derelict high street buildings
🍻Business rates relief for pubs, clubs & music venues.

Really enjoyed meeting law students at the @DerbyUni Freshers’ Fair. After 17 years as a barrister, it took me back to when I was starting out. That’s why I wanted to turn a false story about my education into some support for local state-school students following the same path.

Giving every Crown Court in England and Wales a dedicated rape and serious sexual offences courtroom is a real step forward.
I spoke about it during Radio 4's Westminster Hour.
Listen here 👇

What does chairing the Justice Select Committee actually mean?

I spoke to @BBCDerby about asking the difficult questions, holding the Government to account and working to improve our courts, prisons, probation and access to justice - all whilst continuing to put Derby first.

Government is deporting more foreign national offenders - and rightly so. Receiving countries must have the information to manage serious offenders and protect victims from harm.

In my first question as Justice Committee Chair, I pressed Ministers on how they’ll deliver that.

Congratulations on your election @catkinson80. We look forward to working with you and @CommonsJustice

My fellow candidates Mary Creagh, Janet Daby and Sarah Russell all brought considerable experience and a strong case for how the Committee should approach its work. I look forward to working together.