§ Mr. Sproatasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what were, for the latest
Members Staff Period Total financial costs Amount disbursed Number of persons involved Salaries or equivalent Expenses Salaries Expenses £ £ £ £ £ £ Year ending March— 1980 … … 8,383 — 17 — 2,502 — — 1979 … … 1,297 — 17 — 245 — — 1978 … … 141 — 17 — 94 — — The Committee was appointed on 5 July 1977 by the then Secretary of State for Scotland and the then Lord Advocate to consider the effect on the criminal courts and the prosecution system in Scotland of the volume of minor offences dealt with by summary prosecution and to determine whether alternatives to such prosecution could be devised. None of the members of the committee receives any remuneration in respect of the work they undertake, nor does the committee disburse any money. The researches of the committee are directed towards achieving substantial savings in the prosecution process.
Secretarial services are provided by officers of the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Crown Office in the course of their normal duties.
The figures for the year ending March 1980 are exceptional since they include the costs of two study visits made by groups of the members of the committee to the Netherlands and Sweden.