Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I am grateful to the Minister for clarifying the position but, although training is provided and the Courts Service does a very good job of ensuring those dealing with video link evidence are highly competent and well trained, it may be the case that people in this position are not suitably trained. Given the very sensitive nature of the evidence and the fact that very young children are often involved in giving evidence through the video link, it is worthwhile to specify that the persons should be not only competent but suitably trained, particularly given that Barnardos is already providing this training. It will ensure that people are suitably trained. The difficulty that may have arisen, to which I referred, is that there are not sufficient trained personnel and if someone is absent there may not be someone suitable to take their place. It is important to ensure there will always be a suitably trained person in place. That is the purpose of this amendment.