Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reimbursing self-employed witnesses for loss of earnings when they are obliged to attend court.

The payment of witness expenses and allowances to prosecution witnesses, where the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the prosecuting authority, is governed by the Crown Prosecution Service (Witnesses’ etc. Allowances) Regulations 1988.

The rates payable in accordance with the Regulations are designed to provide compensation to witnesses attending court but not necessarily full reimbursement of all costs incurred, including loss of earnings, whether the witness is employed or self-employed. The aim is to strike a balance between providing a reasonable level of compensation to witnesses and ensuring that public money is spent appropriately.

It is important that the allowances are set at a level that does not discourage the public from coming forward to give evidence and rates are subject to regular review. Nevertheless, limits on the amounts payable are necessary if the Government is to maintain control over public spending in order to direct limited resources to areas of greatest need.

The witness allowance rates are due to be reviewed shortly.