Written question asked by John Howell (Conservative) on Monday, 26 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 January 2009. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 February 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Witnesses

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what methods are used by witness intermediaries to interpret statements by those diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Answer: The methods used by intermediaries to interpret statements by witnesses diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder will be determined by the intermediary concerned on a case by case basis in the light of their professional qualifications, training, experience and knowledge. Intermediaries come from a range of professional backgrounds including speech and language therapy, psychology, occupational therapy, education and other health care professions.

Secondary information