§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements he has made to ensure that disabled people who wish to defend themselves without drawing upon the services of a solicitor and barrister, are able to do so in bankruptcy proceedings before the High Court; and if he will make a statement. [26801]
230W
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe question concerns as 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. Harry Barnes, dated 25 April 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the ability of disabled people to defend bankruptcy proceedings in person.Under the Rules of the Supreme Court, any person under a mental disability may not defend proceedings themselves but must act through a next friend or guardian ad litem. The Rules also provide that a next friend must act by a solicitor. Physically disabled people are, of course, free to defend themselves in all proceedings, including bankruptcy.The Royal Courts of Justice has made a number of improvements to disabled access to its buildings over the last four years. Bankruptcy proceedings normally take place in the Thomas More Building. This is the most modern part of the complex and there is wheelchair access to all floors. Facilities are also available for the hard of hearing to have access to a hearing enhancement system. Blind court users are assisted through Braille indicators at strategic locations in the building, such as next to lift buttons, and space is also provided in courts and chambers should they wish to use Braille machines for transcription.There is also a Customer Service Officer in the Royal Courts of Justice who is permanently on hand to help with any problems that a disabled person may have.