High Court of Justiciary and Court of Session

HC Deb 18 July 1962 vol 663 c56W

72. Mr. Willis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what delays are being caused in the work of the High Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session as a result of vacancies on the bench.

Mr. M. Noble

The number of judges is at present 15 compared with the statutory maximum of 16, but I understand that there is no delay in the disposal of civil cases by a judge of first instance or in the work of the High Court of Justiciary. Increasing work in the Court of Session has, however, necessitated the withdrawal of Inner House judges in order to take cases in the Outer House, and because of the vacancy on the bench, this has caused difficulty in manning the Second Division in the Inner House. The result is that a number of cases are awaiting hearing in the Inner House.