§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have been referred back to the Appeal Court by the Scottish Secretary since 1966; and in how many such cases conviction was quashed. [14528]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSince 1966, my right hon. Friend has referred nine cases to the High Court of Justiciary under section 263(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. Of these cases, five convictions were quashed and in one case a verdict of culpable homicide was substituted for that of murder.