§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) which of the(a) High Court and (b) Crown Court judges who hear rape trials are criminal law specialists; and of those who are not, by what means they have been selected as experienced to try rape cases; [80250]
(2) pursuant to the Answer of 24 July, Official Report, column 1282W, on rape trials, what efforts are made by the Lord Chancellor to ensure that only those judges with appropriate experience and sensitivity at (a) High Court and (b) Crown Court level hear rape cases; how the experience and sensitivity of judges at each level are ascertained; what record is retained of how judges are selected according to these criteria; and how often the record is updated with regard to their trial performance. [80249]
§ Yvette CooperIt is not possible to answer the question before prorogation and I will write with the answer and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what training for trying cases of rape and sexual assault is given to High Court Judges (a) on appointment and (b) at a later date; and whether, in each case, this training is compulsory; [80246]
(2) what training High Court Judges undergo on appointment; and whether this training is compulsory. [80247]
§ Yvette CooperIt is not possible to answer the question before prorogation. I will write with the answer and a copy of the letter will be placed in the library.