§ Mr. John Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the increase in the number and extent of delays which are occurring in the hearing of cases in the Court of Session in the latest convenient 12 months period as compared with earlier similar periods; and what action is proposed to reduce such delays.
§ Mr. RifkindNo statistics of the kind requested are available but the report of the review body on use of judicial time in the superior courts in Scotland records that the average intervals between fixing and commencing hearings for the main categories of business are as follows:
Categories of Civil Business Current Average Interval Appeals 12 months Jury Trials 15 months Non-Consistorial Proofs 15 months Defended Consistorial 12 months Proofs The report, which was published on 18 July, makes a number of recommendations which I have discussed already with the Lord President of the Court of Session, many of which he is currently in the process of implementing. On those requiring primary legislation I have written to interested bodies and organisations inviting comments by 31 August.