§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the courts in Scotland are reopened.
§ Mr. Harry EwingCourts affected cannot resume normal working until the staff concerned discontinue their industrial action.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he
Depute principal clerks of Session and Justiciary (principal) £6,791–£8,729 Depute clerk of Session and Justiciary (senior executive officer) £5,937–£7,032 Assistant clerks of Session (higher executive officer) £4,842–£5,718 (executive officer) £2,549–£4,579 Sheriff clerks Assistant sheriff clerks Depute sheriff clerks (senior principal) £9,059–£10,809 (principal) £6,791–£8,729 (senior executive officer) £5,937–£7,032 (higher executive officer) £4,842–£5,718 (executive officer) £2,549–£4,579 All clerks (clerical officer) £1,698–£3,280 Industrial action in the courts is part of selective action being taken by two Civil Service trade unions in pursuit of a salary award for their members. The strike relates to salaries to be negotiated on the basis of pay research evidence, which is now being processed. Discussions are going on at national level, and the matter is not open to local negotiation.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any courts in Scotland have been closed before 1979 on account of industrial action.
§ Mr. Harry EwingSeveral courts were closed for a day in 1973 and again in 1977 as a result of industrial action taken by court staff in connection with pay matters affecting the Civil Service generally.
94Wplans to introduce emergency legislation to supplement the Act of Adjournment and Act of Sederunt as a result of the closure of nearly all courts in Scotland.
§ Mr. Harry EwingAs my right hon. Friend indicated in the House on 5 March, he fully appreciates the seriousness of the situation and is considering the question of legislation.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the present salaries of (a) depute clerks of the Court of Session, (b) depute clerks, (c) the depute principal clerk of the High Court of Justice, (d) depute clerks of Session in the High Court and the other officers of court in the different courts in Scotland, who are now on strike: what sums they are striking for; what pay award is now being offered to them; if pay negotiations began before the strike; and if they are in operation now.
§ Mr. Harry EwingStaff employed in the High Court of Justiciary, the Court of Session and the sheriff courts who are currently on strike are graded as follows: