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![image: [ Austin Mitchell thinks the Lord Chancellor's powers should be curtailed ]](/olmedia/70000/images/_72334_austin_mitchell300.jpg)
Debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday on the role of the Lord Chancellor again puts the focus on the man in the job - Lord Irvine of Lairg, who was born Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine.
Although Lord Irvine was born in Inverness, Scotland, his department's responsibilities apply only to England and Wales.
The office of Lord Chancellor is older than any other in the British state except the monarchy.
But it was not until the Courts Act came into force in 1972 that it acquired the current role of overseeing the administration of justice within his region of influence.
Lord Irvine's plans to reform the legal aid system by abolishing it for personal injury claims provoked criticism from barristers.
But it has been the Lord Chancellor's personal style that has drawn criticism from both inside and out of his party.
The British press, already irate at Lord Irvine's proposal of a "prior restraint" scheme to block stories invading the privacy of public figures, seized on his decision to spend £650,000 of public money doing up his official residence.
Called to account before the House of Common's Public Administration Committee, the Lord Chancellor said he had no reason to apologise for splashing out £400 per roll of wallpaper.
He called the fuss a "storm in a teacup" and said future generations would thank him for pressing ahead with the refurbishment.
Renovation wrangle over Irvine's holiday home
(30 Mar 98 | UK)
Blair backs under-fire Lord Irvine
(11 Mar 98 | UK)
Lord Irvine refuses to be cowed
(06 Mar 98 | Despatches)
Anger over Lord Irvine's wallpaper defence
(04 Mar 98 | UK)
Irvine's attempt to paper over cracks
(04 Mar 98 | UK)
Lord Irvine hits back at critics
(23 Feb 98 | UK)
Anger at art 'looting' by Lord Irvine
(20 Feb 98 | UK)
Press hits back at Irvine
(06 Feb 98 | UK)
Lord Chancellor's Department
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