§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many(a) Crown courts and (b) magistrates courts there are (i) formal arrangements for (1) victim support and (2) witness support and (ii) separate waiting areas for prosecution and defence witnesses; and in each case what proportion of the totals these figures represent. [114339]
§ Jane KennedyThere are "witness support" services, run by Victim Support, in all Crown court centres. In February 1999 the Home Secretary announced that additional money had been provided to enable Victim Support to extend its witness services into the magistrates courts. The target is for all magistrates courts (around 420) to have a witness service by 31 March 2002. Interim targets of 20 per cent. and 40 per cent. have been set for 31 March 2000 and 2001 respectively. It is expected that these targets will be met.
Separate waiting areas for prosecution and defence witnesses are provided in all new court buildings and where refurbishment takes place. Where it is not possible to provide separate rooms, special arrangements can be made through the court or witness service. Forty Crown court centres have separate waiting areas for prosecution and defence witnesses out of a total of 93 Crown court centres, including satellites. The information for magistrates courts is not readily available.