Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Goodhart (Liberal Democrat). It was answered by Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Labour) on Monday, 12 June 2006.

Judicial Independence

Question: What steps they are taking to ensure that Ministers of the Crown act in a manner compatible with their obligations under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to uphold the continued independence of the judiciary.

Answer: My Lords, a strong, independent judiciary is essential to the rule of law, public safety and the protection of the individual. The Government are fully committed to the independence of the judiciary. It is my duty as Lord Chancellor to defend judicial independence and to ensure that all Ministers are aware of and comply with their obligations to uphold it. These principles are enshrined in the Constitutional Reform Act. It is important to recognise that the preservation of judicial independence does not and should not stifle legitimate debate on issues of public concern. The Government and the judiciary have different and clear constitutional roles, but they share a key objective to do all they can to ensure the safety of the public.

Secondary information