HL Deb 30 April 1985 vol 463 cc231-2WA
Lord Wilson of Langside

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In how many (a) summary civil actions and (b) ordinary civil actions in the sheriff courts in Scotland during 1984 was the interval between the sheriff making avizandum and his issuing judgment in the action more than—

  1. (a) two months;
  2. (b) three months;
  3. (c) four months;
  4. (d) five months; and
  5. (e) six months.

The Lord Advocate (Lord Cameron of Lochbroom)

This information is not held centrally. It is for the

Delays at end of quarter Quarter ended 31.3.83 Quarter ended 30.6.83 Quarter ended 30.9.83 Quarter ended 31.12.83 Quarter ended 31.3.84 Quarter ended 30.6.84 Quarter ended 30.9.84 Quarter ended 31.12.84
% % % % % % % %
Not more than one month 1 — — 2 1 1 — 1
Between one and two months 3 2 5 1 3 2 7 4
Between two and three months 9 4 10 29 18 7 10 21
Between three and four months 38 20 32 15 3 13 9 15
More than four months 49 74 53 53 75 77 74 59
Scottish Courts Administration April 1985.

sheriff principal of each sheriffdom to determine what information of this nature he should obtain. I am arranging for the collection of such information as is available and shall write to the noble and learned Lord thereafter.

Lord Wilson of Langside

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what proportion of the sheriff courts in Scotland have summary criminal trials been fixed for dates within two months of the pleading diet in the course of the last two years for which figures are available.

Lord Cameron of Lochbroom

Information is not collected in respect of individual cases. The following table shows how many of the 49 sheriff courts had a delay between pleading diet and trial diet in summary criminal cases of not more than two months at the end of each quarter during the years 1983 and 1984.

Quarter ended Number of Sheriff Courts
31.3.83 14
30.6.83 7
30.9.83 14
31.12.83 12
31.3.84 11
30.6.84 10
30.9.84 18
31.12.84 11

Lord Wilson of Langside

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what percentage of all summary criminal cases in the sheriff courts of Scotland has the interval between pleading diet and trial, in the course of the last two years for which figures are available, been—

  1. (a) not more than one month;
  2. (b) between one and two months;
  3. (c) between two and three months;
  4. (d) between three and four months;
  5. (e) more than four months.

Lord Cameron of Lochbroom

Information is not collected in respect of individual cases but quarterly returns are made by sheriff courts which show the total number of outstanding summary trials and the current delay between pleading diet and trial as at the end of each quarter.

The following table shows the percentage (rounded) of all outstanding summary trials at sheriff courts with delays falling within the specified periods at the end of each quarter during 1983 and 1984: