§ 35. Mr. KidneyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in providing assistance to victims and witnesses at all court centres. [2616]
§ Mr. WillsThere are witness support services, run by Victim Support, in all Crown court centres. Witness services are being introduced into all magistrates' courts with a target date for completion of 31 March 2002. Interim targets of 20 per cent., and 40 per cent., were set for 31 March 2000 and 2001 respectively. These targets have been met. The latest figures show that witness services have been introduced in 46 per cent. of magistrates' courts.
We are improving facilities in the Crown court to ensure that prosecution witnesses are not forced to sit alongside potentially intimidating defendants and their families. Currently 87 per cent. of Crown court centres have a special witness waiting room available.