§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many potential jurors have been discharged from jury service because of a disability in the last five years; what those disabilities were; what equipment was available to enable them to fulfil a juror's duties; and in which Crown courts these discharges occurred.
Mr. John M. TaylorSection 10 of the Juries Act 1974 provides that if it appears to a member of the court staff that there is doubt as to the capacity of a person who attends for jury service to serve effectively, on the ground of physical disability, the person may be brought before a judge. The judge shall then determine whether or not the person should serve as a juror and, if not, shall discharge the summons. It is the policy of the Lord Chancellor's Department that any disabled person summoned for jury service should be given every assistance within reason to enable him/her to serve as a juror. However, the decision is ultimately one for the judge.
My Department does not collate data on the number of discharges from jury service under section 10 and such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
As to the facilities available at Crown court centres the Lord Chancellor's Department has produced a digest, "Facilities for Disabled People in the Crown and County Courts" which includes information on facilities for 276W disabled jurors. I have arranged for a copy of that digest to be placed in the Library. Courts will also make special arrangements, if possible.