§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the categories of offence for which children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, are prosecuted.
§ The Lord AdvocateI have been asked to reply.
Chief constables are directed to report to the procurator fiscal for consideration of the Lord Advocate's discretion cases in the following categories, viz. :
- (1) Serious cases over which the High Court of Justiciary has exclusive jurisdiction, such as murder, rape and incest.
- (2) Serious cases which are normally dealt with in the High Court of Justiciary, such as culpable homicide, attempted murder, rape or incest, assault to danger of life, and assault and robbery by the use of firearms.
- (3) Offences alleged to have been committed by a child whilst acting along with an adult.
- (4) Offences alleged to have been committed by children, aged 14 years or over, which, in the event of conviction, oblige or permit a court to order disqualification for driving.
- (5) Offences which, in the event of conviction, permit a court to order forfeiture of an article which in the public interest should be forfeited.
- (6) Offences alleged to have been committed by children over the age of 16 years and under the age of 18 years in respect of whom a supervision requirement of a children's hearing is in force.
CHILDREN PROCEEDED AGAINST Age 8 9 10 11 Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female All Scotland … … … 1 — 3 — 7 1 20 1 Glasgow … … … — — 2 — 5 — 7 — 312W
Age 12 13 14 15 Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female All Scotland … … … 53 5 154 12 496 36 1,501 100 Glasgow … … … 29 1 72 2 240 22 573 37 (7) Any other offence which in the opinion of the chief constable is so serious as to warrant the instruction of solemn proceedings by the Lord Advocate in the public interest.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available, a child, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, has been prosecuted and found guilty of an offence ; and in how many such cases the court has remitted the case to a children's hearing for disposal.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI am obtaining this information and shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, have been prosecuted in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellInformation is readily available only in respect of children aged under 16 years of age. In the year 1972, 2,390 such children were proceeded against in the criminal courts in Scotland, 990 in Glasgow.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown by age and sex of the children, as defined for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, prosecuted in Scotland and Glasgow, respectively, over the last 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellInformation is readily available only in respect of children aged under 16 years of age. The following table gives the information requested in respect of such children for the year 1972 :