HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 c498W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Solicitor-General how many criminal trials collapsed as a result of witnesses receiving payment from media organisations in each of the last 10 years. [127660]

The Solicitor-General

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) keeps a wide range of statistical information on matters pertaining to the prosecution of cases, as do the courts and other criminal justice agencies. Data is gathered by CPS on generic reasons leading to unsuccessful case outcomes but this does not extend to specific and unusual acts, such as a witness receiving payment from a media organisation.