§ 34. Mr. Fairbairnasked the Lord Advocate what are the salaries of the home advocate-depute and advocates-depute; and what rises they have had and in what years since 1964.
§ The Lord Advocate (Mr. Ronald King Murray)There is no difference between the salary of the home advocate-depute and the other six advocates-depute. In 1964 the annual salary was £1,250, but in addition fees were paid for appeal court appearances. On 1st December 1965 the annual salary was increased to £1,750. On 1st April 1970 it was decided that Appeal Court fees should no longer be paid and that the salary should be increased to £3,500. On 1st January 1971 the salary was increased to £4,500; on 1st August 1974 to £7,500; and on 1st August 1975 to £9,000.
§ Mr. FairbairnI am obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that answer, which shows an inflationary spiral even greater than the Government have achieved in other matters. Does he feel that these salaries are justified in view of criticism of the law profession? If so, is the pay based on the real Scottish crime figures, or the bogus figures that the Scottish Office has been putting out over the last six years, although it knew the real figures?
§ The Lord AdvocateI disagree with both the hon. and learned Gentleman's comments. We have had justice on the 396 cheap in Scotland for many years and the services of advocates-depute have been greatly undervalued. There has been a considerable increase in the court time spent in prosecutions because of the increase in crime in the last few years. There has been a corresponding increase in the amount of office work of advocates depute.