§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Attorney-General what steps are taken to ensure that all those called for jury service can understand the language in which evidence will be given in court.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Juries Act 1974 requires jurors to be summoned from amongst all those on the electoral register who are not disqualified by age. However, the jury summons form both explains to the summoned person that excusal may be sought on the grounds of insufficient understanding of English and warns that they may be discharged from duty if there is doubt as to their competence. Though the summons and the accompanying leaflet are printed in English, material is available in Welsh and five major Asian languages. In those comparatively rare cases in which evidence is given in a language other than English, interpreters are used.