HC Deb 04 July 1979 vol 969 cc1369-71
32. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when he next will meet the director of Scottish courts administration.

The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Nicholas Fairbairn)

I shall be happy to meet the director of the Scottish courts administration at any time, but I have no plans at present to meet him. He is in regular contact with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate.

Mr. Wilson

When the Solicitor-General for Scotland eventually gets round to meeting the director of Scottish courts administration, will he express to him his worries and dissatisfaction about the slum conditions in certain sheriff courts which adversely affect staff, judges, juries and witnesses attending those courts? Will the hon. and learned Gentleman assure the director that the Government will not cut back on public money which may be needed for the improvement of facilities in those courts?

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

I am extremely concerned that all facilities, where members of the public are affected when giving evidence or helping in the administration of justice, should be of the best. That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. However, it is important that prudence in expenditure should be combined with the provision of facilities for members of the public who come forward to ensure that justice is done.

Mr. Peter Fraser

Before my hon. and learned Friend meets the director of Scottish courts administration, will he consider whether the present level of prosecutions and those anticipated in the sheriffdom of Tayside central and Fife justify extra expenditure on court buildings within the city of Dundee?

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

There has been great dissatisfaction for a long time about the provision of facilities in Dundee sheriff court and High Court—as it is when the circuit is there. This again is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Considerable plans are afoot to improve those facilities and I hope that, with economy, we can make sure that the interests of justice are served and that the public are accommodated.

Mr. Dewar

When the hon. and learned Gentleman meets the director of Scottish courts administration, will he discuss with him the fate of juries in Scottish courts and some way of circumventing the archaic and, indeed, medieval Act of Parliament of 1587, under which juries are placed in a room to reach their decision and are not released or given any sustenance until such time as they reach a decision, whether it takes days or weeks? Will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider repealing that Act?

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

This is an important matter which a recent case highlighted. The late Lord Milligan, in a case in the High Court, said "The law of Scotland prescribes that once a jury retires it cannot eat. Let us rise for a bun". It is a difficulty which has come to light because of the complexity of cases, though happily juries in Scotland do not take as long in reaching their decisions as they do elsewhere. Nevertheless, as a humane matter, we shall look into this with great urgency.