§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to implement the principal recommendations of the Pigot committee on the taking of evidence from very young children; and what review he has undertaken of the present working of the law in this area. [26205]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Criminal Justice Act 1991 implemented most of the recommendations made by the
Area Time (i) Early retirement2 (ii) Voluntary redundancy (ii) Compulsory redundancy (iv) Medical grounds Home Office (main) 1993–94 22 1 52 32 1994–95 28 1 10 56 11995–96 4 0 3 3 Prison Service 1993–94 16 3 2 381 1994–95 8 2 4 271 11995–96 1 0 0 5 United Kingdom Passport 1993–94 0 0 0 11 Agency 1994–95 2 0 0. 7 11995–96 0 0 0 3 Forensic Science Service 1993–94 1 0 0 0 1994–95 6 0 0 6 11995–96 0 0 0 0 Fire Service College 1993–94 0 2 0 9 1994–95 0 0 0 1 11995–96 1 0 0 0 1 To 23 May 1995. 2 Excludes redundancy and retirement on medical grounds.
§ Ms HodgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost to the Department of staff leaving under redundancy—early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments, (ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments including enhancements (iv) any other special arrangements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and projected for (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [25641]
130Wadvisory group on video evidence. The only significant recommendation which has not been implemented concerns the pre-trial cross-examination of child witnesses. This remains under consideration. We are not yet persuaded that such a system would be in the best interests of the child.
We commissioned a major research study by Professor Graham Davies of Leicester university into the effectiveness of the child evidence provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The report of this study entitled "Videotaping children's evidence: an evaluation", was published on 18 May. I am sending a copy to the hon. Gentleman.