§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what percentage of Crown court centres an information point for witnesses has been established.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe information in the form requested is not available. All Crown court centres have arrangements which enable court users to make inquiries when they attend court. This duty is undertaken by a particular official in some courts and in others, particularly the larger courts, by way of a separate reception desk at the entrance to the building. The design guide for courts includes specifications to ensure that counters at which enquiries can be made are easily visible and accessible to people when they enter a court building. In line with the citizens charter, we will continue to look for means of improving the ways in which necessary information can be supplied to all those who use the courts.