§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the established number of procurators fiscal and procurators fiscal depute in each sheriffdom in Scotland; and how many such positions are currently vacant.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe established numbers of procurators fiscal and procurators fiscal deputes in each sheriffdom in Scotland with current vacancies are as follows:
Complement Vacancies Sheriffdom PF PFD PF PFD Glasgow and Strathkelvin 1 65 Nil 7 Lothian and Borders 6 28 Nil Nil North Strathclyde 6 27.;5 Nil 3 South Strathclyde 6 31 Nil Nil Grampian 14 16 Nil 2 Tayside 10 26 Nil Nil 43 193.5 Nil 12
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time between first appearance in(a) summary cases and (b) solemn cases and final disposal in each sheriffdom in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe average period between pleading and trial diet in summary criminal business in the sheriff courts for the year ending 31 March 1988 was 17 weeks. The actual delay period in each sheriff court as at 30 September is as shown in the table below. Information about the average time between first appearance and final disposal in solemn cases is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Summary Criminal Business Quarter ended 30 September 1988—Delay Period between Pleading and Trial Diet (in weeks).
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30 September 1988 Aberdeen 17 Airdrie 15 Alloa 10 Arbroath 15 Ayr 18 Banff 9
30 September 1988 Campbeltown 13 Cupar 19 Dingwall 8 Dornoch 10 Dumbarton 23 Dumfries 16 Dundee 7 Dunfermline 10 Dunoon 9 Duns 3 Edinburgh 19 Elgin 7 Falkirk 7 Forfar 7 Fort William 18 Glasgow 17 Greenock 11 Haddington 31 Hamilton 22 Inverness 9 Jedburgh 5 Kilmarnock 16 Kirkcaldy 7 kirkcudbright 16 Kirkwall 7 Lanark 9 Lerwick 8 Linlithgow 10 Lochmaddy 8 Oban 10 Paisley 20 Peebles 10 Perth 9 Peterhead 13 Portree 8 Rothesay 5 Selkirk 6 Stirling 12 Stonehaven 8 Stornoway 14 Stranraer 12 Tain 6 Wick 8