§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the role of judges in trials involving rape and other serious sexual offences so as to permit or require them to take over the cross-examination of witnesses, with particular reference to victims. [22709]
§ Mr. MichaelOn 13 June, we announced an urgent, wide ranging inter-departmental review of the way in which vulnerable and intimidated witnesses are treated by the criminal justice system. This includes the consideration of ways to prevent unrepresented defendants from personally cross-examining victims in rape and other serious sexual offence cases. The work of the review group is nearing completion.