§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has commissioned in respect of the circumstances surrounding the position of vulnerable adults when giving evidence in court proceedings; if he will place a copy of the results in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe treatment of vulnerable witnesses is a matter which is kept under review. Police units for assisting women who are the subject of sexual or other assault operate in all parts of the country. The Crown Office has a committee part of the remit of which is to keep under review commitments in the justice charter to improved arrangements for witnesses. Arrangements exist at local level to assist and support vulnerable witnesses before they attend court to give evidence. Present research relates to the use of closed circuit television to enable children to give evidence in 779W criminal cases outwith the court room. The results of that research will be used to advice decisions on new research proposals in this general field.