§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Attorney-General what facilities are made available in the courts at all levels for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn the magistrates courts, it is for the court to ensure that it can communicate adequately with deaf persons appearing before it. Where a defendant who is deaf or hard of hearing does not himself arrange for the services of an interpreter, magistrates courts make use of interpreters provided through the agency of local directors of social services and voluntary bodies such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.
In the Crown court, and in the civil courts, interpreters must be provided by the parties. Court staff will always advise parties where a list of interpreters may be obtained. In Crown court cases fees for interpreters are paid from central funds. In civil cases the payment of fees is a matter for the parties.
Provided that court staff are given sufficient warning of the needs of a party or a witness who is hard of hearing, arrangements can generally be made to ensure that that person will be able to sit as close as possible to, and with an unobstructed view of, the judge and the witness box.
Many of the purpose-built courtrooms have excellent acoustics and many are equipped with microphone and public address systems which may be used to enhance the ability of the hard of hearing to follow proceedings.