§ 44. Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether electro-static detection analysis testing is made available as a matter of routine to the defence in all cases on indictment where the Crown relies on a written statement by the accused.
§ Mr. John PattenSuch analysis is not conducted routinely. The defence in preparing its case may obtain expert evidence and may seek assistance from the forensic science service. Each party is bound, under the Crown court (advance notice of expert evidence) rules 1987, to disclose to the other any expert evidence which it proposes to adduce in proceedings. In addition, under guidelines issued by the Attorney-General in 1981, the prosecution makes available to the defence any unused material if it has some bearing on the offence charged and the surrounding circumstances of the case.