§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department what(a) compulsory and (b)optional training for judges in the area of cases involving sex offences has been provided by the Judicial Studies Board since July 1993.
Mr. John M. TaylorOnce every five years, all judges attend Crown court refresher seminars run by the Judicial Studies Board. Some of the sessions in the seminars are devoted to the study of sex offences. In addition, judges who hear family cases attend a special residential seminar once a year. Since July 1993 there have been four Crown court refresher seminars and one special family seminar.