§ 35. Mr. Dewarasked the Lord Advocate what steps he is taking to evaluate the summary cause procedures in Scottish sheriff courts; whether he is satisfied that the new machinery is providing a system which is more comprehensible, cheaper and quicker than the small debt and summary actions it replaces; and whether he will make a statement.
The Lord AdvocateThe Sheriff Court Rules Council has a statutory responsibility to review the procedure and practice followed in civil proceedings in the sheriff court. In September 1977 the Council decided to evaluate the working of the summary cause procedure introduced in September 1976. To assist in this task it invited the views of interested bodies and others. The evaluation is proceeding and I do not see the need to make a separate evaluation.
The new summary cause, though easier to understand, is not cheaper and takes 218W slightly longer than the procedures it replaced because most cases are dealt with by correspondence, litigants no longer having to attend in court.