§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average period was between pleading and trial diets in sheriff and district courts in Scotland for each year since 1984.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation on the average periods between pleading and trial diets in the sheriff courts is given in the table. I regret that similar information for district courts is not held centrally.
Average period between pleading and trial diet in summary criminal business in the sheriff courts, as at 31 March weeks 1984 19.1 1985 16.7 1986 17.0 1987 17.5 1988 17.0
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were called to trial in district courts in Scotland in 1987.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn 1987, 94,022 persons were called to court in district courts in Scotland.