§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for relieving the pressures created by prosecutions in the summary criminal courts in Scotland.
§ Mr. MillanThis has been a worry for some time, as the numbers of summary prosecutions have increased over the years. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I have accordingly decided to set up a committee of inquiry with the following terms of reference
to consider the effect on the criminal courts and the prosecution system of the volume of minor offences at present dealt with by summary prosecution and whether some other process might be devised to deal with such offences while maintaining essential safeguards for accused persons.Lord Stewart has agreed to be chairman of the committee. The names of the other members will be announced later.