§ Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland 36,000 what action he proposes regarding the future of the lay summary courts in the light of the Government's intended reform of local government.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe disappearance of the burgh as a local government 93W unit will necessitate fresh arrangements for dealing with criminal cases at present heard in the burgh court. My right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate and I consider that there is no case for the existence of two lay summary courts of concurrent jurisdiction as at present; we propose that the existing justice of the peace system should be developed, with stipendiary magistrates appointed by the Crown in the large centres of population, to meet the need. I shall shortly be consulting the local authority associations about the establishment of a working party to examine the practical problems involved. The working party will also be asked to consider whether any changes in the distribution of criminal cases between the sheriff and lower summary courts might achieve a more efficient system of summary justice.