§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards the provision of a witness service in every magistrates court by March. [29369]
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 22 January 2002]: The Magistrates Court Witness Service is being established and run by the organisation Victim Support, with funding from the Home Office. As at 14 January 2002, witness services had been established in 220 (58 per cent.) of the 382 magistrates courts in England 937W and Wales. Victim Support advise that the process of recruiting staff and volunteers for the remaining 162 courts is in progress, and that they are hopeful of meeting the target of establishing witness support services in all magistrates courts by 31 March 2002.