§ Mr. ButcherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will ensure that in the period between making a statement and going into court a witness need not have his name declared to the defendant;
(2) if he will ensure that in the period between making a statement and going into court a witness need not have his address declared to the defendant.
§ Mr. John PattenUnder the Magistrates' Courts (Advance Information) Rules 1985 the prosecution may withold information, including statements giving the names of witnesses, to which the defence would otherwise be entitled where there is considered to be a risk of intimidation of the witnesses concerned. Last year we amended the Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981 to prevent the routine disclosure of witnesses' addresses in advance of trial or full committal proceedings.