§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the number of summary trials in Scotland which were adjourned owing to pressure of business on the trial date between 1 January and 31 October.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn over 90 per cent. of the sheriff courts in Scotland the number of summary criminal trials adjourned due to lack of court time did not exceed 5 per cent. of the total number of trials set down in the period from 1 January 1989 to 30 September 1989. The figure for October is not available.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of sheriffs as at 30 November 1989 and 30 November 1987.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information is set out in the table:
1987 1989 Sheriff posts as at 30 November Full-time sheriffs 191 195 Temporary sheriffs 83 100 1 This includes 1 sheriff seconded to the Scottish Law Commission, and 1 sheriff seconded to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.