§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases involving child witnesses heard in(a) the Crown courts and (b) the Central Criminal Court, London, evidence has been offered by way of a live closed-circuit television link in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe provision for the giving in evidence of a video-recording of an interview with a child witness in certain specified proceedings is contained in section 54 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. As this provision came into force only on 1 October 1992, no cases have yet been brought in which evidence has been given in this way.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases involving child witnesses heard in(a) Crown courts and (b) the Central Criminal Court, London, video-taped evidence has been offered in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe answer to(a) is that in all Crown court centres, excluding the Central Criminal Court, the number of cases involving child witnesses in 7W which the live television link was used by children to give evidence was: in 1990, 124 cases; in 1991, 152 cases; and in 1992, to date, 89 cases. The answer to (b) is that in the Central Criminal Court, the number of cases in which the live Television link was used was: in 1990, four cases; in 1991, three cases; and in 1992, to date, two cases.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases in the past three years, involving child witnesses, heard in(a) the Crown courts and (b) the Central Criminal Court, London, screens have been used in order to shield a child from the accused person whilst the former is giving evidence against the latter; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information sought by the hon. Member has not been collected, and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.