§ Lord McCluskeyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to introduce legislation of the kind contained in the Administration of Justice (Emergency Provision) (Scotland) Act 1979 to provide for emergency arrangements for the administration of justice in Scotland in the light of the current deteriorating situation in the Scottish courts, civil and criminal.
§ Lord LyellEmergency legislation would not of itself bring Glasgow and Edinburgh Sheriff Courts back into full operation; and in civil cases the amendments made last year to the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 give courts a measure of discretion in overriding time limits. The Government are regularly monitoring the situation in the courts, and they are continuing to seek agreement on the Civil Service pay claim.
House adjourned for the Whitsun Recess at fourteen minutes before two o'clock, until Monday, 1st June next.