§ 44. Mr. McKelveyasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress of the diversion scheme.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandYes, Sir. The scheme is still in its early days but continues to make steady and satisfactory progress.
§ Mr. McKelveyIs the Minister aware that I support the scheme? Does he not share my concern that in Ayrshire recently there were a couple of diversions involving cases of husbands of battered wives. Does the Minister agree that cases of serious assault are not proper to be used in a diversion scheme?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandClearly, we want to expand the diversion scheme. I believe that the hon. Gentleman supports what is being done. Obviously there are also cases where it is not appropriate to take advantage of that alternative to prosecution. I do not know of the particular cases to which the hon. Gentleman has referred. If he feels that there have been cases of serious assault, I shall be grateful if he will let me know. It is certainly not intended that the diversion scheme should be used to deal with serious assaults, which should very much more properly come before the ordinary courts.