HC Deb 21 January 1992 vol 202 cc163-4W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to appoint full-time sheriffs in 1992 and future years; to which sheriffdoms such appointments will be made; whether he will seek to appoint more women as sheriffs; and whether he will seek to appoint more solicitors as sheriffs.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The number and location of new appointments in 1992 and future years will reflect a number of considerations including the incidence of retirals which cannot be accurately predicted and the judicial resources required to allow courts to deal timeously with the volume of cases coming before them. Application of the present policy whereby in respect of each vacancy the best-fitted candidate is appointed has resulted in more solicitors being appointed in recent years and can be expected to result in more women being appointed in the future as a greater number of women lawyers of appropriate ability acquire the experience necessary for a shrieval appointment.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average annual total number of

Region/Supply Zone Standards not fully met Compliance Date for Zone
Borders
Ale Aluminium 1998
Cockburnspath Iron 2005
Earnscleugh Aluminium 1995
Galaschiels Aluminium 1992
Tweedsmuir Bact1 1994
Watch Iron 2005
West Linton Trihalomethanes 1993
Central
Alloa Aluminium, Lead 1997
Ardeonaig Trihalomethanes 1995
Balquhidder Trihalomethanes 1995
Bo'ness, Blackness Whitecross Trihalomethanes 1998
Bonnybridge, Camelon, High Bonnybridge Aluminium 1990
Bridge of Allan Aluminium 1995
Cowie, Plean, Airth Stirling (Part) Aluminium 1992
Cumbernauld Trihalomethanes 1998
Falkirk, Larbert, Carron Stenhousemuir, Skinflats Aluminium 1997
Kirkintilloch (part), Lenzie Aluminium, Trihalomethanes 1998
Kirkintilloch-Waterside Trihalomethanes 1998
Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie Torrance, Balmore Trihalomethanes 1998
Dumfries & Galloway
Areeming (Lochenkit) North Iron, pH, Colour, Manganese 1992
Aluminium, Bact1

Working days for a full-time sheriff in the last year for which figures are available; what is the gross salary of a sheriff and a sheriff principal; and what is the daily remuneration presently paid to a temporary sheriff.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The number of working days per annum for a full-time sheriff, excluding duties during weekends and public holidays, is 216. At 1 January 1992, the gross annual salaries of a sheriff and sheriff principal were, respectively, £59,900 and £66,500. The present daily remuneration rate of a temporary sheriff is £223.