§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) legal practitioners and (b) victims have taken part in the inter-departmental review of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses announced on 13 June 1997. [39382]
§ Mr. MichaelThe working group on vulnerable or intimidated witnesses included a representative from Victim Support as well as representatives from the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers. The working group received about fifty written contributions from a wide range of organisations and individuals, including the Law Society, the Criminal Bar Association and organisations representing victims. Two special conferences were held towards the end of last year to test out some of the ideas being considered by the working group. These were attended by individuals concerned with these important issues including members of the judiciary and the legal profession and non-governmental organisations representing victims. The working group found this to be an extremely valuable exercise which greatly assisted their work.