HC Deb 04 July 1979 vol 969 cc1371-2
33. Mr. Ancram

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what are the long-term effects of the recent industrial dispute on the working of the criminal courts in Scotland.

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

The immediate effect of the industrial dispute has been to increase the time taken to dispose of cases of all kinds. In the short term priority has been given to High Court and custody cases. This means that the long-term effects will be felt mostly in summary matters. I hope that by the end of this year at the latest solemn prosecutions will have returned to normal, and that by the middle of next year disposal times of all cases will have been reduced to their level before the strike began. Indeed, I should like to see the time taken to dispose of cases reduced to an even shorter time than it was when the strike took place.

Mr. Ancram

Does the Solicitor-General agree that one of the most serious consequences of the industrial action as related to the criminal law is the effect that it had on the 110-day rule, which is Scotland's equivalent to habeas corpus? Can he assure the House that the lessons learned from having had to extend that rule this year have ensured that should a similar situation arise in the future it will be kept to a minimum?

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

I trust sincerely that a similar situation will never arise, and that those charged with serving justice will not feel the need for similar action. However, reforms are under consideration which will have an effect on the 110-day rule and will, I hope, reinforce its humanity as one of the most equitable provisions of the law of Scotland.