Curbs on jury trials could still be on the cards under the Burnham administration after the lord chancellor passed up an opportunity to rule out his predecessor's controversial plans.

Taking to the floor for justice questions today, Alex Norris was immediately asked if he intended to proceed with legislative proposals to curb jury trials.

The Courts and Tribunals Bill will return to the Commons on 13 October. Conservative MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst also flagged up media reports that the government is considering tabling an amendment allowing judges to decide, for cases involving either-way offences, whether a defendant faces a jury or a judge.

Norris replied: ‘I would always caution the honourable gentleman about believing reports. When there are things to be said, they will be said from the dispatch box. I think he would expect that I, as the new lord chancellor, and my right honourable friend the new prime minister will look at every aspect of business in the Ministry of Justice to ensure that it is delivering for victims and for the public at large. The honourable gentleman knows the legislation is coming back, and I look forward to discussing it in its fullness when it does.’

Pressed by shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy for a guarantee that the bill will not restrict the right to a jury trial, Norris replied: ‘The shadow secretary of state seeks to run ahead of the process that is going on at the moment. It is very important that parliament has the opportunity to consider this really important legislation in the spirit that he talks about, and we have now reached second reading. I have been in this place for nine years, and legislation very rarely looks the same at the beginning of the process as it does at the end.’