What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on steps to assist disabled people taking part in court proceedings.

I have not had any recent discussion on that specific topic with the Secretary of State for Justice himself, but through the Crown Prosecution Service we have been working closely with our other criminal justice partners to improve support for disabled victims and witnesses. The CPS is carrying out a consultation on a new policy for prosecuting cases involving witnesses or victims who have learning disabilities or mental health issues.

People with mental ill health are probably the single largest disabled group in the context of this question. Will the Solicitor-General have discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice, particularly in relation to the answer that I was given when I raised my concerns about those involved with mental health tribunals? I feel that they are not getting a fair crack of the whip. If the Solicitor-General reviewed the scale of the problem and suggested proposals through which we could tackle those difficulties, I would be most grateful.

My hon. Friend makes a strong point. He is a well-known supporter of disabled rights, and I compliment him on the perseverance with which he pursues those interests. I can answer only for the prosecution authorities; the mental health tribunals do not fit into my responsibility. I suggest that my hon. Friend raises the issue with the Secretary of State for Justice, from whom I am sure he will get a sympathetic response.

Is the Solicitor-General aware that part of the concern is that prosecutors are too often unwilling to regard people with mental health problems as potentially credible witnesses? Does she have any ideas about how that attitude can be changed?

The right hon. Gentleman has put his finger on what has been a historic problem; it surfaced recently in a case, for which the CPS apologised straight away. The CPS has invited Mari Taber, a director of Mind, to carry out an internal review of that case with a view to learning lessons more broadly. The consultation to which I have already referred is about putting forward a strong policy about how decisions concerning those with learning difficulties or mental health problems should be made in a sensible way so that those people are empowered, not disempowered.