Speeches by Juss.

“You have also said that you will lead the commission’s response to the recommendations of the independent review of the criminal courts, while also working on the commission’s long-term strategic direction. What insight do you have as to what this work will involve?”

“You have already acknowledged, in answer to previous questions, that in selecting judges we need to look at merit, good character and diversity. The Lady Chief Justice has said that the JAC should examine its criteria and culture and whether the JAC’s culture and processes need to be looked at. Do you feel that the cur…”

“Good morning. I am Warinder Juss, Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West. I am a solicitor but not practising at the moment. I am also a member of the GMB trade union’s central executive council and a member of various APPGs.”

“Ms Berry, I think I agree with you when you say that having a target might not be the correct way forward, because that would mean that you end up appointing somebody just because you have to reach that target, even though the merit may not be there. But there is obviously a problem. As you will be leading the way to i…”

“We have also had the creation of the Judicial and Legal Diversity Board. It is clear why that has been set up. How do you think that board will complement the work of the JAC?”

“Ms Berry, in your CV you described your leadership style as “collaborative and collegiate”, but we know from the Lord Chancellor that you have also described your style as “measured radicalism”. What do you mean by that, and how would you apply it to being chair of the JAC?”

“It may be something that I can take up with you later.”

“It is relevant to access to justice. I had a meeting with the Consumer Legal Association last week. It raised issues about third-party disclosure, in particular disclosure of information and police records from police forces. There have been instances apparently where there have been delays since April 2025 in the poli…”

“Very quickly, is it your aim across all legal areas—that includes criminal and civil cases—to have as few litigants in person as possible? In my experience, there are delays in court procedures with litigants in person.”

“Good afternoon. I am Warinder Juss, the Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West. I am a solicitor, but not practising at the moment. I am a member of the GMB trade union central executive council and of various APPGs.”

“I have a couple of questions on funding options. In its written submission to our inquiry, the Access to Justice Foundation suggested that there should be a mixed funding model to raise additional funds for access to justice. I know that the Government considered interest on lawyers’ client accounts, but have you consi…”

“This question may be for Ms Ziaulla or Ms Harbottle. Has the Legal Aid Agency done any investigation on this? The increase in criminal legal aid fees is obviously very welcome and is something that lawyers have been chasing. Has there been any kind of investigation done to suggest that it is having an appreciable effec…”

“Thank you. I have a very quick question.”

“Minister, in your introduction you mentioned the duty solicitor scheme. However, between October 2023 and 2025 the number of active duty solicitors decreased by nearly 30%. We know that criminal law is not deemed to be an attractive area for our young lawyers to go into. There have been cases where duty solicitors are …”

“At the beginning of last month, there were more than 1,600 applicants on the social housing register in Wolverhampton requiring a three-bedroom property, more than 270 of whom required emergency priority. In the previous 12 months, however, only 216 three-bedroom properties became available for let. Will the Leader of …”

“Speaking of local history, Wolverhampton, Bilston and District trades unions council has prepared a book on the 1926 general strike. In my hon. Friend’s experience, has he found that workers usually go on strike only as a last resort? Does he agree that the right to protest and to withdraw labour are part of the import…”

“Q14. Every year, about 160 university students commit suicide. That is more than three every week, yet there is no established duty of care on universities to protect the health, safety and welfare of their students. It is not about creating excessive burdens on universities, but about requiring them to take reasonable…”

“I did not mean to interrupt my right hon. Friend, but I thought this was an appropriate time to intervene. As a member of the GMB trade union executive council, I was pleased to see my union welcome the Government’s move to nationalise British Steel, which it described as a “decisive and timely intervention by the Gove…”

“I welcome the Minister’s coming to the House this afternoon to provide an update. I believe that he is genuinely concerned about what is happening in Gaza, but the breaches of international law by the Israeli Government continue, and the suffering in Gaza is worsening. I have just one question: will he please give some…”

“Will the Secretary of State give way?”