§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals against conviction and applications for pardon or the prerogative of mercy have been lodged with his office in each of the past 10 years; how long, on average, it took to process each one; how many are still outstanding; how much, on average, such cases cost in terms of time, salaries and expenses for all Government and local government authorities, including the Scottish Office, the Crown Office, procurators fiscal offices and police; and if he will make a statement. [25158]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of cases in respect of which representations were received by my right hon. Friend are as follows:
- 1984: 54
- 1985: 43
- 1986: 39
- 1987: 61
- 1988: 46
- 1989: 60
- 1990: 39
- 1991: 54
- 1992: 58
- 1993: 52
- 1994: 30
Representations in respect of 20 cases are at present under consideration. The average time taken to process cases received and cleared in 1994 was 55 working days. Additionally, on 1 January 1995 there were five major cases which had been under consideration for more than 12 months. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available because statistics were not kept in that form. The costs of processing cases are not available in the form requested.