§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances a deaf person carrying out jury service is permitted to receive communication support from a palantypist, sign language interpreter or lip speaker; and in what circumstances a deaf juror's interpreter, palantypist or lip speaker may be excluded from a trial(a) in open court and (b) in the jury room. [57600]
§ Mr. McLeishThere is no statutory bar to a deaf person receiving support from a sign language interpreter or lip speaker in open court. However the presence of another person in the jury room to interpret the comments and views of other jury members would not be permitted. Section 99(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 provides that
no other person shall be present with the jury after they are enclosed".