HC Deb 12 May 1998 vol 312 cc69-70W
Mr. Levitt

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines his Department has published for judges in respect of deaf jury members receiving communication support in(a) open court and (b) the jury room. [40819]

Mr. Hoon

Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) which is a non-departmental government body. The JSB has an advisory committee whose remit has recently been extended to cover all aspects of equal treatment training, including training on increasing awareness of the needs of people with hearing difficulties, including jury members. The Committee will be considering guidance for members of the judiciary on handling those with hearing difficulties.

Mr. Levitt

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in the last year a judge has permitted a deaf person carrying out jury service to receive communication support from (i) a palantypist and (ii) a sign language interpreter. [40818]

Mr. Hoon

Palantypists are not available in the Crown Court. Details of those jurors using the support of a sign language interpreter are not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

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