HC Deb 30 June 1982 vol 26 cc885-6
13. Mr. David Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that, in the appointment of sheriffs, experience is taken fully into account and that long-serving temporary sheriffs are placed at no disadvantage.

Mr. Allan Stewart

In consultation with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, my right hon. Friend's aim is to recommend to Her Majesty the appointment of the best qualified person at any given time. Service as a temporary sheriff is one of a number of factors that are taken into consideration.

Mr. Marshall

Is the Minister aware that the present system gives absolute power of patronage to the Lord Advocate? Is he aware of concern over recent appointments, and does he agree that a clear-cut set of rules should govern appointments to the Bench in Scotland?

Mr. Stewart

I am surprised at the hon. Gentleman's comments. We have not received complaints about the appointments system.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Does the Minister consult the sheriffs principal on this matter as well as taking all other circumstances into account?

Mr. Stewart

I can reassure my hon. Friend that the views of the sheriffs principal are taken into account by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate before he makes a nomination.

Mr. Canavan

Is the Minister aware that the patronage system of sheriff appointments in Scotland is so corrupt that I am forced to advise my constituents, if they are interested in a fair trial, not to appear before Sheriff Principal Taylor, another failed Tory parliamentary candidate—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Canavan

—because of the way in which—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Canavan

Because of the way in which he tried to gerrymander the parliamentary constituencies in favour of the Tory Party?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is very fortunate that I did not order him to leave the Chamber. He knows that he should sit down when I stand up. He also knows that he is not entitled to criticise a judge, as I gather that he was doing, without putting down a motion on the Order Paper.