Parliamentary Questions: Answering & tabling

Bridget Prentice

With over 27 years’ experience of leadership in the public sector and almost two decades spent in Parliament, Bridget has an insider’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face public bodies and third sector organisations.

Bridget has served 18 years as MP for Lewisham East, was a Government Whip and a Minister in the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for 14 policy areas. This ranges from legal services, the courts and tribunals, youth engagement to electoral administration etc. She has piloted major pieces of legislation through parliamentary process and has negotiated financial packages to support key groups such as Coroners’ Courts Support Staff. She has also played a key role in designing and implementation of policy. She received Minister of the Year award for her work on diversity in the legal profession.

Prior to taking on ministerial positions, Bridget was a member of the Home Affairs Committee, Court of Referees and Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. 

Bridget was a Commissioner on the Electoral Commission for four years overseeing the conduct of elections, referendums and political party finances.

She has been a trustee on a number of charities and is presently Chair of Age Exchange, a charity using reminiscence and the Arts to support people with dementia and their carers. She has been Chair of Governors of Trinity School, Lewisham and is a fellow of the Woodard Corporation.

She is a Freewoman of the London Borough of Lewisham

Joan Ryan

Rt Hon Joan Ryan is the former UK Member of Parliament for Enfield North. Joan stood down in December 2019 having served as the representative for the constituency for 18 years, from 1997 to 2010 and then regaining the seat in the 2015 General Election. Joan was a Labour MP for the majority of her time in Parliament, but became a founding member of The Independent Group of MPs in February 2019. 

From 2016 to 2019, Joan served as Member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, specialising in the causes and impact of Climate Change, air pollution and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.