MoJ permanent secretary to give evidence to MPs

Tuesday, 28 April at 2:30pm Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Dr Jo Farrar will give evidence to the Justice Committee for the first time during an evidence session scrutinising the work of the department.

MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Andy Slaughter, will also question senior officials from HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), HM Prison and Probation Service and the MoJ.

Dr Farrar, who heads the department and the management of its budget, has been in post since 2025. The session will consider the MoJ's performance, reform of the Criminal Courts and the HMCTS digital Reform Programme.

Discussion will also focus on supply, demand and workforce pressures across prisons and key issues within probation, including staffing, operational capacity and electronic monitoring.

Tuesday, 28 April at 2.30pm

• Dr Jo Farrar CB OBE, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice
• James McEwen, Chief Executive, HMPPS
• Nick Goodwin, Chief Executive, HMCTS
• Adrian Hannell, Director of Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance, MoJ