ACSO welcomes new Justice Committee Chair

Following nominations and elections, Andy Slaughter MP has been elected Chair of the Justice Committee.

He received 400 of the 549 votes cast.

The appointment has been welcomed by the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO).

Executive Director Matthew Maxwell Scott said, “Andy’s legal background and previous shadow ministerial roles makes him an excellent choice as Chair of the Justice Select Committee, and we wish him and the committee every success.

 “We hope very much that the new committee will give plenty of attention to civil justice, which so often gets ignored in favour of the criminal system even though far more people use it. 

 “The last committee’s inquiry on delays in the county court is something we hope the new members will agree to pick up on. Average wait times remain at all-time highs, and far above where they were before the pandemic. The snap election meant ministers and officials were unable to give oral evidence and the committee could not release a report, but this issue has not gone away.

“Equally, the last committee’s work on the operation of the Official Injury Claim portal could not be concluded, but now that we have the Rabot decision on mixed injuries and yet more data showing the challenges faced by consumers using the portal, it would be good to see this looked at afresh.”