HL Deb 18 May 1989 vol 507 c1404WA
Lord Macaulay of Bragar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) What percentage of the judicial time of the Senators of the College of Justice in Scotland is occupied in dealing with criminal cases, including appeals; and
  2. (b) Whether the most recent figures show an increase or decrease in percentage terms over the preceding two years; and
  3. (c) Whether the amount of time given to criminal business is considered to be detrimental, or otherwise, to the speed of progress of civil cases, including appeals, in the Court of Session.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)

In the year to 31st March 1989, the judicial time of Senators of the College of Justice in Scotland occupied in dealing with criminal cases, including appeals, amounted to 52 per cent. of total sitting days. Comparable percentages for the two preceding years were 50 per cent. (1987–88) and 48 per cent. (1986–87). Over the past three years, in spite of the increase in criminal business, average delays in civil business have been reduced to near the optimum intervals recommended in the 1986 report of Lord Maxwell's review body on the use of judicial time in the Supreme Courts in Scotland. At 31st March 1989, the average delays in ordinary proofs, civil jury trials and civil appeals were, respectively, six months, six months and eight months.