To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the legislative provision for a maximum daily allowance to witnesses for loss of earnings to ensure that those appearing as witnesses are not out of pocket as a result. [15280]

The present provisions are intended to relieve hardship that may result from witnesses discharging their public duty by attending court to give evidence. I have no plans to change the present legislation. There is inevitably a tension between meeting the full costs of witnesses attending court and the limited public money available to do so. I believe the present provisions strike the right balance in recognising the discharge of a public duty and using limited public funds to best effect.