§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the average length in days of trials(a) on indictment and (b) in county courts in Scotland over the last five years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonComprehensive information is not collected centrally in the form requested, but it is estimated that the average length of trials on indictment is between three and four days in the High Court of Justiciary and about two days in the sheriff courts. The average length of summary criminal trials in the sheriff courts is estimated to be about two hours. Such information is not held centrally on the district courts.
§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the average payment from legal aid funds to(a) solicitors and (b) barristers in Scotland over the last five years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is as follows:
Solicitors £ Advocates £ 1985–86 211.32 200.02 1986–87 209.38 263.28 1987–88 207.54 406.07 1988–89 188.03 655.25 1989–90 213.12 746.04 The annual average payments from legal aid funds to solicitors reflect the varying amounts of different types of legal aid work, including advice and assistance, undertaken in each year. The figures for payment to advocates reflect changes in the law on divorce and in court practice.