Friday 14 September 2012 by John Hyde
Liberal Democrat peer Lord McNally has been handed the legal aid portfolio following last week's government reshuffle.
The Ministry of Justice today confirmed McNally (pictured) - the only justice minister to survive the reshuffle - will take over that responsibility from Jonathan Djanogly. McNally, who helped to steer the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) through the House of Lords, will also look after family justice, defamation and EU business.
He will share human rights and civil liberties with the Conservative Damian Green, who has taken over the joint role with the Home Office with responsibility for policing and criminal justice.
Helen Grant, who is a family solicitor with experience of legal aid, has a portfolio that includes civil law and justice. She will take charge of the Jackson reforms that formed part of LASPO, as well as oversee the expansion of the RTA Portal and the extension of the limit in the small claims court from £1,000 to £5,000.
Grant will handle victims and criminal injuries compensation, the courts and tribunals service, and claims management regulation. She will also offer support to Maria Miller, secretary of state for women and equalities, on her cross-government work.
Criminal barrister Jeremy Wright will be minister for prisons and rehabilitation and will be in charge of sentencing policy and youth justice.
The full list of portfolios is here:
The lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice, Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, will have oversight of all business. He will have particular responsibility for:
Rt Hon Lord McNally, minister of state, will have responsibility for:
Rt Hon Damian Green MP, minister of state, minister for policing and criminal justice (jointly with the Home Office):
Jeremy Wright MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state, minister for prisons and rehabilitation will have responsibility for:
Helen Grant MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state, minister for victims and the courts has responsibility for: