Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Monday, 3 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 November 1997. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 1997 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept;Court Service

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, under what statutory authority people under the age of 14 years are generally barred from the public gallery of criminal courts. - Including text of letter from Michael Huebner of Court Service.

Answer: Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department under what statutory authority people under the age of 14 years are generally barred from the public gallery of criminal courts. [14675] Mr. Hoon: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 12 November 1997: PQ98/337 Exclusion of persons under the age of 14 years from the public galleries of criminal courts. The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the exclusion of children from the public galleries of criminal courts. The statutory authority is Sections 36 and 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Secondary information