§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy towards the role of polygraph tests and their evidential value (a) in criminal proceedings; and (b) as part of the process of appeal against criminal conviction. [HL4416]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Government have no plans to promote the use of polygraph tests as evidence in criminal trials. The admissibility of evidence in criminal proceedings is a matter for the courts. They have held that, as a matter of principle, evidence produced by mechanical, chemical or hypnotic truth test on a witness is inadmissible in courts in England and Wales to show the veracity or otherwise of the witness.