§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were being held in custody awaiting trial on the last convenient date; and what was the comparable average figure for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Allan StewartOn 20 April 1982 there were 613 persons in custody awaiting trial. The comparable average figures for the years 1974 to 1981 are as follows:
Year Number 1981 559 1980 554 1979 566 1978 552 1977 500 1976 555 1975 541 1974 474 Figures for earlier years, on the same basis, are not readily available, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.