§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many court days were undertaken by(a) temporary and (b) permanent sheriffs in Scotland for each of the last 20 years; and what proportion each represents of the total number of court days worked; [25472]
(2) how many court days the duties of the sheriff in sheriff courts have been undertaken by temporary sheriffs in each of the last 15 years. [25471]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Information in the form requested is not available for the years prior to 1989–90. The figures for the years since then are set out in the table:
Total sitting days Number and percentage of days undertaken by permanent sheriffs Number and percentage of days undertaken by temporary sheriffs 1989–90 22,954 18,753 (81.7 per cent.) 4,201 (18.3 per cent.) 1990–91 23,189 18,842 (81.3 per cent.) 4,237 (18.7 per cent.) 1991–92 24,568 19,105 (77.8 per cent.) 5,463 (22.2 per cent.) 1992–93 25,087 18,847 (75.1 per cent.) 6,240 (24.9 per cent.) 1993–94 25,644 19,111 (74.5 per cent.) 6,533 (25.5 per cent.) 1994–95 25,821 19,053 (73.8 per cent.) 6,768 (26.2 per cent.)
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria govern the selection process for appointments as temporary sheriffs; and if he will make a statement. [25469]
§ Mr. Forsyth[holding answer 16 April 1996]: All applicants for temporary sheriff appointment must have been legally qualified for at least five years. All candidates complete a standard application form and are asked to provide two referees. Comments are sought from the dean of the Faculty of Advocates and from the president and secretary of the Law Society depending on whether the candidate is an advocate or a solicitor. Interviews are carried out by the sheriffs principal, who make recommendations to the Lord Advocate.
609W
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) permanent sheriffs and (b) temporary sheriffs there were in each of the last 20 years, how many of each were appointed in each year, and how many left each position; and if he will make a statement. [25467]
§ Mr. Forsyth[holding answer 16 April 1996]: The information requested is available from 1985 only and is given in the table. Between 1985 and 1996 a total of 31 sheriffs left their positions, mainly on retiral. Comparable information for temporary sheriffs is not readily available. The use of temporary sheriffs when permanent sheriffs are unavailable for court work serves to avoid increases in court waiting periods and inconvenience to court users which would result from cancelled sittings. Their use also makes an important contribution to dealing efficiently with temporary increases in court business. The balance between the respective contributions of permanent and temporary sheriffs is kept under regular review.
Year Number of temporary sheriffs Number of permanent sheriffs 1985 61 88 1986 67 92 1987 84 95 1988 100 96 1989 101 96 1990 102 97 1991 110 99 1992 108 99 1993 117 101 1994 124 101 1995 119 104 1996 110 104
§ Mrs EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present salary of(a) permanent sheriffs and (b) sheriffs principal; and if he will make a statement. [25468]
§ Mr. Forsyth[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Salaries of permanent sheriffs and sheriffs principal fall within the remit of the Senior Salaries Review Body. Following this year's review rates are £75,978 and £88,266 per annum respectively with effect from 1 April 1996 increasing to £76,716 and £89,123 per annum respectively with effect from 1 December 1996.