§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for completing office business in the sheriff courts and supreme courts; and what performance was secured in 1993–94.
§ Mr. LangThe targets set for completion of office business in the sheriff courts in 1993–94 are set out later. These targets remain in force for 1994–95. The percentage figures following each target indicate the proportion of sheriff courts achieving the target figures or better in the course of the year. More detailed information on the performance of individual court offices will be made available to local court advisory committees. Similar targets are in force in the supreme courts and all of these were achieved in 1993–94.
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Targets for sheriff clerk offices and performance 1993–94 Per cent. To issue the first deliverance in all ordinary writs, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt. 98 To issue the first deliverance in all summary cause actions (including small claims), or return to sender, within three working days of receipt. 97 To draft, in preparation for signature, all final ordinary decrees in absence (excluding divorce) within one working day of receipt of the minute craving decree. 94 To draft, within seven days of receipt of the affidavits, in preparation for signature, all final decrees in undefended ordinary actions of divorce or return the affidavits to the sender. 92
Per cent. To draft, in preparation for signature, all decrees in actions of divorce under the simplified procedure within one working day of expiry of the period of notice. 97 To issue extract decrees in all ordinary actions (excluding divorce) within three working days of the date of ordinary or the expiry of the days of appeal—whichever is the later. 89 To issue all summary cause/small claim extract decrees within one working day of the due date. 96 To issue extract decrees in all ordinary actions of divorce within one working day of the due date. 88 To issue extract decrees of divorce under the simplified procedure within one working day of the due date. 90 To issue the first deliverance in all petitions for sequestration/liquidation, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt. 95 To prepare for signature the first deliverance in all adoption petitions within one working day of a correct petition being received. 93 To scrutinise and accept or reject commissary petitions and inventories within two working days of receipt. 96 To issue Confirmation within three working days of acceptance of inventory. 94 To conduct small estate interviews within seven days from the time an interview is requested. 98 To process juror claims for payment, or return to sender, within two working days of receipt. 96 To process postal fines (other than unidentified payments) on day of receipt. 99 To issue warning letters, means enquiry citations, warrants, extracts, etc, and transfer fines within seven days of the trawl. 99 To remit all non-Exchequer receipts to entitled parties within 14 days from the end of the last accountancy period. 98 To effect a card reconciliation of all outstanding financial penalties on a monthly basis. 100 To reply to letter pleas within one working day of the court. 99 To order social enquiry and other reports within one working day of the court. 99 To complete probation, community service, compensation and fines supervision orders within two working days of the court. 100 To issue juror citations in the first instance at least 21 days prior to a jury sitting/trial. 98 To reply to all letter inquiries except those which require extensive investigation within two working days of receipt. 95
§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what objectives for reducing court waiting periods have been established; what targets have been set for 1994–95 in respect of court waiting periods for the supreme and sheriff courts; and if he will make a statement about the performance of the supreme courts and each of the sheriff courts in 1993–94.
§ Mr. LangThe programming of court business is a matter for the judiciary. Acting in co-operation with the judiciary in the supreme and sheriff courts, the Government seek to provide the resources which will allow speedy access to justice. Having regard to the time required by parties to have their cases properly prepared the following objectives have been adopted
the Lord President of the Court of Session has accepted the recommendations of a Committee chaired by Lord Maxwell relating to the reduction off waiting periods in the Supreme Courts: the target is to reduce waiting periods to the recommended levels and, subject to any acceleration in the rate of increase in court work, maintain waiting periods at that level: for certain categories of hearing, additional targets involving much reduced waiting periods, have been set;546WSheriffs Principal have agreed to overall targets of reducing waiting periods for summary criminal trials in the Sheriff Courts to 12 weeks or less and to hold them at that level; and to maintain waiting periods at 12 weeks or less for civil cases in the Sheriff Courts.The main targets for waiting periods for 1994–95 are set down as follows: "waiting period" is the period between a trial or proof being requested or an appeal being received and the date assigned expressed in weeks. Similar targets applied in 1993–94 and national performance for that year is noted in the second column in the table.
Target 1993–94 Performance Crimianl Appeal Business Summary prosecutions: Notes of Appeal against Sentence and Stated cases (accused in custody) 4 4 Court of Session (a) Ordinary proofs 20 20 (b) Defended Consistorial proofs 17 18 Sheriff Courts (National average as at 31 March 1994 (a) Civil proofs/debates 12 11.6 (b) Summary Criminal Trials 12 15.2 In 1993–94 waiting periods of 12 weeks or less were achieved for civil debates/proofs in 81 per cent. of sheriff courts.
Waiting periods of 12 weeks or less were achieved for summary criminal business in 72 per cent. of sheriff courts.
Performance of individual sheriff courts at 31 March 1994 is set out in the following table.
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Weeks Court Civil proofs Summary criminal trials Hamilton 14 12 Glasgow 14 25 Inverness 13 11 Cupar 13 13 Dundee 13 16 Paisley 13 14 Dumbarton 12 10 Dunfermline 12 13 Peterhead 12 12 Stirling 12 12 Wick 12 12 Jedburgh 11 11 Kirkcudbright 11 11 Ayr 11 12 Kirkcaldy 11 11 Dingwall 10 10 Oban 10 11 Elgin 10 9 Haddington 10 13 Duns 10 10 Banff 10 10 Linlithgow 10 20 Stranraer 10 11 Falkirk 10 10 Forfar 10 10 Stornoway 10 10 Selkirk 10 10 Stonehaven 9 9 Dumfries 9 9 Peebles 9 10 Tain 9 10 Lanark 9 10 Arbroath 9 11 Aberdeen 9 13 Kilmarnock 9 16 Dunoon 8 8 Edinburgh 8 11
Weeks Court Civil proofs Summary criminal trials Alloa 8 8 Greenock 8 10 Perth 8 8 Portree 8 4 Rothesay 8 10 Airdrie 8 16 Lerwick 7 7 Campbeltown 6 10 Dornoch 6 8 Lochmaddy 6 10 Fort Willliam 6 14 Kirkwall 6 6 In addition, the sheriffs principal have agreed that sheriff court programmes should be designed to ensure that the number of trials adjourned due to lack of court time should not exceed 5 per cent. of the total number set down, a target met in 83 per cent. of sheriff courts.