asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to modify the Justices of the Peace Act 1361 to ensure that witnesses in cases do not face the possibility of imprisonment or intimidation through use of the powers of the 1361 Act to bind over any persons in the court.

The Law Commission has agreed to consider the law relating to binding over in the context of its forthcoming review of common law offences relating to public order. We shall consider the need for legislation to modify the Justices of the Peace Act 1361 when the Law Commission has reported on this subject.