Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Thursday, 6 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 December 2007. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Monday, 17 December 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Witnesses: Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government have taken to ease the burden of criminal court proceedings on children who are called as witnesses.

Answer: The Government have already done much to assist child witnesses in criminal proceedings. We have:"introduced special measures such as live links, video-recorded evidence-in-chief, screens around the witness box, giving evidence in private and intermediaries. An independent evaluation in 2004 found that 76 per cent. of child witnesses were satisfied with special measures;""reformed the law on competence to provide a presumption that all witnesses are deemed to be competent;""given £30 million annually to Victim Support, who provide the Witness Service in every court;""introduced a statutory Code of Practice to give victims, including children, legal rights for the first time;""spent £2.75 million on new court live link systems to help witnesses give evidence since 2006;""met the target of having separate waiting facilities for prosecution witnesses in 90 per cent. of magistrates courts ahead of schedule;""on 31 October, issued updated practitioner guidance on interviewing vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including children."In June the Government issued a Consultation Paper, ““Improving the Criminal Trial Process for Young Witnesses”” which looked at further ways of helping young witnesses give evidence, including more choice regarding special measures. We intend to publish a response to this consultation next year.

Secondary information