§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Solicitor-General with reference to the proposal to introduce a system where, before trial, interviews of certain key witnesses are conducted by the prosecutor in a limited category of cases, what categories of cases are being considered; and what criteria were used to establish categories of cases. [59342]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 12 June 2002]: No such proposal has been made. The Attorney-General has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions, as part of his review of the handling of the Damilola Taylor murder trial, to consider whether the time has come to introduce a system where, before trial, interviews of certain key witnesses are conducted by the prosecutor in a limited category of cases. The Director is due to report to the Attorney-General later this year and an announcement will be made at that time.