§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many criminal convictions there have been for offences against children where children were abused by a parent in the Renfrew division of Strathclyde region in the last two years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation on the relationship between offenders and their victims is not colleced centrally.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to reduce delays in court proceedings in child abuse and sexual cases; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonConsiderable priority is given initially by the prosecution authorities and subsequently by the courts to the speedy handling of cases involving children.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to introduce in court proceedings concerned with child or sexual cases video recordings of testimony from child witnesses as evidence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonCertain of the recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission in its report on the evidence of children and other potentially vulnerable witnesses were implemented in the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. We are considering whether it might be appropriate to bring forward legislative provisions implementing the remaining recommendations of the Commission. These recommendations include the possible taking of the evidence of a child on commission with the proceedings being video recorded for subsequent replay at the trial.