§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to remove the need for witnesses in a trial, including police officers, to provide oral evidence to prove facts where the facts have been included in a statement submitted to the defence and the defence has served no counter-notice challenging their validity; and if he will estimate the saving in police time consequent on such a provision.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 1 February 1993]: A similar proposal was made in part VI of the Scottish Law Commission's number 137—"Evidence: Report on Documentary Evidence and Proof of Undisputed Facts in Criminal Proceedings". We are considering that proposal as well as seeking to identify other means of minimising unnecessary court attendance by witnesses. The time saved by such a proposal would depend on the use made of counter-notices and it is not possible to predict that.