§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of, and how many, defendants who have pleaded not guilty to offences tried in the sheriff courts have been convicted in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information requested is given in the table below:
Persons proceeded against for crimes and offences in sheriff courts, Scotland 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Persons pleading not guilty 25,365 24,899 26,389 25,823 24,934 Persons pleading not guilty but against whom a charge was proved 14,599 14,848 15,457 14,063 13,226 Percentage 58 60 59 54 53