Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether teachers and school staff may be exempted from jury service because of pressures on schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has not expected key workers, including those working in education, to serve on a jury.

Anyone who is summoned for jury service and who cannot serve should contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau (JCSB). While by law we cannot automatically defer jurors, during the pandemic HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) issued guidance to help staff deal sympathetically with all requests from the public who wish to be released or deferred from jury service as a result of COVID-19. Each application for deferral/excusal is considered on its own merit, in a way that is both fair to the individual and consistent with the needs of the court in providing a representative jury.