§ 41. Mr. Fairbairnasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what progress he has made with the scheme to facilitate timeous pleas in cases on indictment in the High Court and sheriff courts of Scotland.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandHaving consulted and met interested parties, there appears to be little prospect at present of establishing mandatory pre-trial discussions to facilitate timeous pleas in the cases to which my hon. and learned Friend refers. The previous Lord Advocate actively encouraged discussion between the 163W Crown and the defence, and the present Lord Advocate is equally in favour of such discussions with a view, inter alia, of encouraging timeous pleas.