HC Deb 21 January 1980 vol 977 cc76-7W
Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to commission a professional designer to submit suggestions for the provision of robes for sheriffs.

Mr. Rifkind

No.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to authorise the provision of new robes for sheriffs and sheriffs principal in Scotland; what representations he has received on the subject; and what estimate he has made of the additional public expenditure that would result from such a provision.

Mr. Rifkind

My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present to authorise the provision of new robes for sheriffs principal and sheriffs. My right hon. Friend received one representation last year to make such provision which if implemented, would, it was then estimated, have required additional public expenditure of the order of £15,000–£20,000 with a smaller continuing sum thereafter.