§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2001,Official Report, column 752W, on smoking in jury rooms, if he will give instructions that all asthmatics who are allergic to tobacco fumes will automatically be exempted from jury service. [15689]
§ Mr. WillsThere are no plans to introduce any further restrictions on eligibility for jury service. However, a person suffering from asthma, or any other illness, can apply to the Crown court to be excused from service on the ground of personal hardship. It will ultimately be for a judge to decide whether a person should be excused for this reason.