Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s reshuffle last week, I am delighted to have been reappointed as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

It’s a big honour and responsibility to be at the helm of the Ministry of Justice. I have considerable experience in justice issues for many years as a lawyer and minister so I felt ready to assume this responsibility when I was first appointed last July. Upon being reappointed during the shuffle, I am ready to continue my work to drive through major ongoing reforms of the probation service, improvements to the prison system, and reforms of the way we sentence criminals.

Following the senseless and horrific terror attack in Streatham, I gave a statement to the House of Commons. Two members of the public were brutally stabbed as they went about their business on the busy High Road in Streatham and another was injured as our brave police stepped in before even more harm could be done. This appalling incident made the case plainly for immediate action and last Tuesday, emergency legislation was introduced in Parliament.

In my role as Justice Secretary, I unveiled urgent laws to ensure that terrorist offenders can no longer be released before the end of their sentence without a thorough risk assessment by the parole board – with those considered still a threat to public safety forced to spend the rest of their time in prison.

The new rules will apply to offenders sentenced for crimes such as training for terrorism, membership of a proscribed organisation, and the dissemination of terrorist publications.

The move will end the current automatic halfway release for offenders who receive standard determinate sentences. Instead, they will be forced to spend aminimum of two-thirds of their term behind bars before being referred to the parole board for consideration.

It will mean around 50 terrorist prisoners already serving affected sentences will see their automatic release halted.

I was extremely sad to hear that my good friend and Swindon community hero Alan Nix MBE has passed away.

Alan was heavily involved in some of the most successful projects in the town, including a mobile drugs education classroom and leading the way with Lawn Community Centre, where I have held some of my loneliness summits.

Alan, who was awarded an MBE for his community work in Swindon, was also involved with the Rotary for 25 years and became involved with the cancer user services in GWH. He will be missed by many people here in Swindon.

Last Friday, I paid a visit to the staff at the Walcot Community Shop.

This is a great little shop, which I have been involved with for many years. It first opened back in 2000 and is run solely by volunteers from the local area with all of the money raised going back to the community.

It has been described as a lifeline by many local residents and has helped those looking to get back into the workplace, residents who have moved to the area and elderly people living at a local sheltered housing complex.

The shop is always ready to accept donations such as toys, books, clothes and furniture. It can be found at Sussex Place and I would highly recommend a visit.