HC Deb 19 January 1989 vol 145 cc285-6W
Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average time between the lodging of a plea of not guilty and the resultant trial diet in the Glasgow district court for the latest available period for which this figure is available; and if he will give the same information for the same period for cases going for trial before a stipendiary magistrate.

Mr. Rifkind

The average time for cases dealt with in November 1988 was 14 weeks for Glasgow district court, excluding the stipendiary magistrates court, and 25 weeks for cases heard by a stipendiary magistrate.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of cases in which trial diets are set in Glasgow district court for the latest period for which figures are available and the percentage of those cases where a plea of guilty was presented when the trial was called.

Mr. Rifkind

Figures are not available in the precise form requested, but in 1987, 63 per cent, of the 13,368 persons called to court in Glasgow district court pled guilty at some stage in the proceedings.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of cases called in Glasgow district court for the latest year in which figures are available and the same figures three and five years ago.

Mr. Rifkind

The information requested is given in the table:

Persons called to court: Glasgow District Court
Year Number
1984 16,704
1986 14,892
1987 13,368