§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has proposed that the principle of the judicial system of Scotland that the trial judge exercising criminal jurisdiction should decide only on the facts brought before him in the course of a trial should be altered by the Act of Adjournal (Criminal Legal Aid Fees Amendment), 1968.
§ Mr. Ross:I have made no such proposal. The function to be exercised by 399W the trial judge under the new Act of Adjournal will be confined to certifying, on the application of the defence counsel or solicitor, that a particular case has been one of exceptional length, complexity or difficulty; and the intention is that this will be done, after the termination of the case, on the basis of the facts relevant to this particular aspect.