HC Deb 23 April 1996 vol 276 cc57-8W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases in each year since 1993 the courts have used the testimony of mentally handicapped individuals in order to secure a conviction. [25209]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Cynog Dafis, dated 23 April 1996: The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about mentally handicapped witnesses. I am sorry to have to tell you that this information is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.