§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary trials there were in the sheriff court during 1995; and if he will indicate the total number of adjournments of summary trials in the sheriff court, the reason for these adjournments and if they were at the instance of the prosecution or the defence. [15861]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is held by the Scottish Court Service and I have asked the chief executive to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Michael Ewart to Mr. John McFall, dated 27 February 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about Sheriff Court trials and adjournments during 1995.The figures you seek are as follows:1. During the period 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1995 there were 59,299 diets of trial called which involved 43,552 summary cases.2. Of the 59,299 diets, 15,747 were adjourned trial diets. The reasons recorded for these adjournments were:
Reason Number of adjournments (a) Availability/absence of Crown witness 3,207 (b) Lack of Court time 2,835 (c) Lateness of the hour/completion of evidence 1,158 (d) Availability/absence of Defence witness 1,155 (e) Inadequate time to prepare for trial 1,016 (f) Adjourned to notional trail diet 945 (g) Miscellaneous1 5,431 15,745 1Miscellaneous includes a variety of causes each of which occurs relatively infrequently, including the absence of a defence agent, Procurator Fiscal or Sheriff due to ill heath, change of defence agent, difficulties with productions, adverse weather conditions and for further investigation. These figures do not include adjournments for reasons stated after the conclusion of a trail, for example, in those cases where the Sheriff defers sentence for the accused to demonstrate good behaviour.
512W
School Number of pupils covered by scheme 1995–96 Total roll 1995–96 Proportion of total roll covered by scheme 1995–96 (spring term) (Percentage) Fees charged for assisted pupils 1995–96 (£ per annum) Fee remission grant allocation 1995–96 (£) Kilquhanity School 12 32 37.50 2,503 30,000 Keil School 64 210 30.48 3,909–4,614 234,000 Morrison's Academy 133 522 25.48 3,258–3,453 395,000 The Park School 65 259 25.10 3,432–3,822 245,000 Kilgraston School 55 241 22.82 3,840–4,287 192,000
I am sorry that we do not hold centrally figures which show whether adjournments were at the instance of defence or prosecution.I hope this information is helpful.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of summary trials in the sheriff courts during 1995; [16732]
(2) what was the total number of adjournments of summary trials in the sheriff courts and the reason for these adjournments during 1995; and whether they were at the instance of the prosecution or the defence. [16733]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service.