Catherine Atkinson MP

@UKLabour MP for Derby North. Chair of @UKParliament's Justice Select Committee @HoCcommitteesUK.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

Important work ahead.

[Charlie Taylor @charlie_taylor6]

Important intervention from @catkinson80 , it's now 10 years since Dame Sally Coates produced her report into prison education - Sir Martyn Oliver @Ofstednews and I @HMIPrisonsnews have written to @AlexJJNorris setting out concerns with prison education
https://t.co/EDXPBF6FHk

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

Better education in prison can mean less crime and fewer victims.

But in some prisons, teaching hours have been cut in half.

Today I asked how the Government will make sure people leave prison with the skills to find work and break the cycle of crime.

[UK House of Commons Committees @HoCcommitteesUK]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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…

[UK House of Commons Committees @HoCcommitteesUK]

Meet the new Chair of the Justice Committee, Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80.

We challenged her to a game of finish the sentence to find out more about the Committee's work.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

Farage has spent years telling us Trump has the answers.

These midterm results suggest otherwise.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[UK House of Commons Committees @HoCcommitteesUK]

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.

[UK House of Commons Committees @HoCcommitteesUK]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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

My question to the Prisons Minister today:

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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 👇

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

https://t.co/S9PnkBnrTL

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

.@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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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 👇

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[Catherine Atkinson MP @catkinson80]

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.

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

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