§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the latest estimate of the(a) normal and (b) overtime hours spent by police officers giving evidence and waiting to give evidence in each constabulary in Scotland; what was the total cost of this; what is the estimated burden on (i) normal payroll and (ii) overtime budgets expressed in cash terms and as a percentage of each budget; what was the effect of these duties on the ability of officers to be relieved of duties on scheduled rest days; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonCurrent information is not available. The most recent estimate of which the Government are aware is that contained in the report by the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland entitled "Police Waiting Time at Court". A copy of the report, which was published in November 1992, is in the Library.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the police service and the procurators fiscal service to discuss initiatives to reduce the amount of time police officers spend waiting to give evidence in courts; what was the outcome of these discussions; and what new initiatives he intends to introduce.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government's White Paper—"Firm and Fair—Improving the Delivery of Justice in Scotland" published, following consultation with a wide range of interests, on 27 June contains proposals which should contribute positively to reducing the time all witnesses have to spend in court.