HC Deb 08 April 1976 vol 909 cc249-50W
Mrs. Winifred Ewing

asked the Lord Advocate what has been the total cost of Crown Counsel during the years 1971 to date broken down into appropriate headings and into each year for which statistics are available; what has been the cost of the administration of (1) the Procurator Fiscal Service and (2) the Crown Office during the period 1971 to date broken down annually; and what has been the costs of administering (3) the Court of Session and (4) the sheriff courts for the years 1971–76, broken down annually.

The Lord Advocate

Figures for salaries and wages in respect of Crown Counsel, the Procurator Fiscal Service and the Crown Office from 1971 onwards are readily available and are as follows:

Crown Counsel Procurator Fiscal Service Crown Office
£ £ £
1971–72 21,550 669,260 52,000
1972–73 22,750 741,610 72,000
1973–74 27,250 848,123 82,397
1974–75 31,500 1,104,130 134,503
1975–76* 52,500 1,678,000 151,000
* Estima

Figures of other administration costs are unfortunately not available for the earlier years; for the year 1974–75 when changes in accounting procedure took place, and 1975–76 (estimated) such figures as are available cannot be broken down under the headings specified.

Figures for the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The salary figures are as follows:

Court of Session Sheriff Courts
£ £
1971–72 149,510 658,108
1972–73 160,682 707,409
1973–74 177,291 984,015
1974–75 225,469 1,353,873
1975–76* 304,000 1,653,000
*Estimate.

These figures do not include the salaries of the Judiciary. Again, other administration costs are not readily available.