§ Lord Wilson of Langsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what proportion of the Sheriff Courts in Scotland have summary criminal trials been fixed for dates within two months of the pleading diet in the court of the last two years for which figures are available.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)Summary criminal trials were fixed for dates within eight weeks of the pleading diet in 35 per cent. of the Sheriff Courts at 31st December 1987 and in 37 per cent. of these courts at 31st December 1988.
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§ Lord Wilson of Langsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
In how many (a) summary civil actions and (b) ordinary civil actions in the Sheriff Courts in Scotland during 1987, was the interval between the sheriff making avizandum and his isuing judgment in the action been more than:
- (a) two months;
- (b) three months;
- (c) four months
- (d) five months; and
- (e) six months.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenThis information is not held centrally.
§ Lord Wilson of Langsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
In what percentage of all summary criminal cases in the Sheriff Courts of Scotland has the interval between pleading diet and trial in the course of the last two years for which figures are available:
- (a) not more than one month;
- (b) between one and two months;
- (c) between two and three months;
- (d) between three and four months; and
- (e) more than four months.
§ Lord Sanderson of BowdenThis information is not readily available in the form requested. The percentages of all summary criminal trials in the Sheriff Courts outstanding at 31st December 1987 and at 31st December 1988 with the relevant intervals between pleading and trial dates are set out in the table below:
Interval 31st December 1987 31st December 1988 4 weeks or less 0% 0% 5–8 weeks 6% 13% 9–12 weeks 13% 24% 13–16 weeks 19% 13% 17–20 weeks 44% 32% 21–24 weeks 11% 16% 25–26 weeks 7% 2% 100% 100% (Figures are rounded to nearest percentage point)