§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that a trial on a charge of attempted murder was taken in a Sheriff Court recently, whether it is now the proposed practice of the Crown Office to continue to have such cases heard in the Sheriff Court in the future.
§ Mr. RossThe Lord Advocate tells me that the answer is "No". The principal consideration governing the decision whether to proceed in the Sheriff Court or the High Court of Justiciary will continue to be the gravity of the offence. Occasionally, however, Crown Counsel in making this decision have to have regard to other factors and special circumstances such as the time which is available in which to bring the accused to trial if he is in custody, and the pressure and volume of other work in the different courts at the time.