§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland according to what criteria and by what machinery it is decided (a) that a summons should be signeted as a matter of urgency in the Court of Session, and (b) that a writ be issued as a matter of urgency in the sheriff court.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe procedure for signeting is that followed prior to 1976, viz, by application to the Signet Office. Acceptance is a matter for the Deputy Keeper of the Signet, who has regard 99W to the circumstances of each case, particularly those in which time limits are involved. In the sheriff courts which are not working normally, there are no uniform procedures or criteria for issuing writs but in cases of difficulty application may be made to the sheriff.