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15 Sept 2003 : Column 497W—continued

Domestic Violence

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on guidance issued to the Crown Prosecution Service on the conduct of cases involving domestic violence. [129395]

The Solicitor-General: Cases involving domestic violence are conducted in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service revised policy on prosecution of cases of domestic violence issued in November 2001. The policy focuses on the safety of the victim and children, while holding abusers accountable for their actions. The CPS is committed to supporting victims by, where appropriate, the use of special measures and, wherever possible, by constructing cases on the basis of evidence other than that of the victim.

The CPS network of domestic violence co-ordinators facilitates implementation of the revised policy, assists in providing training and shares and promotes good practice and a consistency of approach across the 42 areas.

Iraq

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people in the Law Officers' department had a role in advice given on the legality of the continued occupation of Iraq. [128964]

The Solicitor-General: There are two officials in the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers who assist in dealing with any questions of international law relating to Iraq. There is a longstanding convention, followed by successive governments, that neither the substance of Law Officers' advice, nor the fact that they have been consulted, is publicly disclosed. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4(d) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Criminal Justice Reform

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what new structures have been developed to manage delivery and reform of the CJS at national and local levels. [128724]

The Solicitor-General: The Government established a National Criminal Justice Board and 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards following recommendations made by Lord Justice Auld in his review of the Criminal Courts and as part of a wider package of Criminal Justice reform announced in the White Paper "Justice for All".

At a national level, a National Criminal Justice Board comprising CJS Ministers, senior officials from the Home Office, the CPS, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and senior representatives from the police and the judiciary, is responsible for

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supporting Local Boards in delivery of the PSA targets and for managing the Government's overall CJS reform programme.

Through the Local Boards, chief officers from the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Probation Service, Prisons, Youth Offender Teams and the courts are working together locally to bring more offenders to justice and to improve public confidence in the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

Criminal Trials

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.

Crown Court Cases

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of cases in the Crown court resulted in a conviction in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [128856]

The Solicitor-General: In 2001–02 the Crown Prosecution secured convictions in 73.3 per cent. of Crown court cases. This rose to 74.5 per cent. in 2002–03.

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of defendants who pleaded not guilty in the Crown court were convicted in 2002–03. [128857]

The Solicitor-General: In 2002–03, the Crown Prosecution Service secured convictions in respect of 61.9 per cent. of all defendants who pleaded not guilty and whose cases proceeded to a contested hearing in the Crown court.

Magistrates Courts

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what the discontinuance rate was in magistrates court cases in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [128861]

The Solicitor-General: Discontinuances—those cases in which a decision is made not to proceed before evidence is heard by the court—fell from 16.2 per cent. of all magistrates court cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in magistrates courts in 2001–02 to 15.5 per cent. in 2002–03. These figures include cases in which the defendant was bound over without a trial being held.

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of prosecutions in the magistrates courts secured a conviction in 2002–03; and how many defendants pleaded or were found guilty. [128855]

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The Solicitor-General: In 2002–03 the Crown Prosecution Service secured convictions in 76.8 per cent. of all prosecutions in the magistrates courts. This figure comprised 811,583 guilty pleas and 166,909 verdicts of guilty after trial.

Vulnerable Adults (Video Evidence)

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what definition is used of a vulnerable adult as it relates to the admissibility of video recorded statements as evidence in chief in Crown Court proceedings. [128726]

The Solicitor-General: Chapter 1 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provides for a witness to be eligible as a vulnerable adult for assistance by the use of video recorded evidence if the court considers that the quality of the evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by reason of any of the following circumstances:

(i) the witness suffers from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983; or


(ii) otherwise has a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; or


(iii) that the witness has a physical disability or is suffering from a physical disorder.

The court will consider any views expressed by the witness pursuant to section 16 (4) of the Act.

Once a witness is deemed eligible, then in relation to adult vulnerable witnesses, the court needs to be satisfied that the video will maximise the quality of their evidence.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Building Works

Dr. Cable: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what work is outstanding on (a) Norman Shaw North, (b) Norman Shaw South and (c) Portcullis House; and what the estimated completion date is. [128789]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: No work is outstanding in Norman Shaw North other than routine maintenance.

In Norman Shaw South the refurbishment contractor has defects liability until February 2004 and he will attend to any items as necessary. The design consultant has liability to resolve window closure details and an issue in connection with air conditioning design. Also, some minor alterations were requested by the Accommodation and Works Committee for execution this summer.

In Portcullis House the water feature contractor is currently fulfilling his defects liability and the fenestration contractor has one item remaining from his defects schedule which is to be dealt with in September.

Parliamentary Ticket Office

Mr. Evans: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the Houses of Parliament ticket office has cost in each year since its construction. [127949]

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Sir Archy Kirkwood: During the period of the trial opening (2000 and 2001) of the summer line of route, tickets were on sale in Westminster Hall. Following the Houses' decision to put the arrangement on a permanent footing, and pending the outcome of discussions with Westminster City Council as the local planning authority and with English Heritage, a temporary facility on Abingdon Green was used as a ticket office in 2002. The cost was £53,500, of which the House of Commons share was £32,100.

The permanent ticket office used this year for the first time has an estimated cost of £155,000 (the House of Commons share is £93,000). It will be dismantled and put into store during the winter and with due maintenance it is expected to be used each summer for at least 10 years. The annual cost will therefore be £15,500, of which the House of Commons' share will be £9,300.

Dr. Cable: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of constructing the Houses of Parliament ticket office was; what the cost of storing the ticket office until 2004 will be; which company has been selected to store the ticket office until 2004; and if he will make a statement. [128788]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The permanent ticket office used this year for the first time has an estimated cost of £155,000 (the House of Commons share is £93,000). It will be dismantled and put into store during the winter and with due maintenance it is expected to be used each summer for at least 10 years. The annual cost will therefore be £15,500, of which the House of Commons' share will be £9,300.

Tenders are to be invited shortly for the dismantling, storage, maintenance and re-erection of the building for the next four years.

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