HC Deb 11 June 1996 vol 279 cc100-1W
Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions the interim procurator fiscal has appeared in the sheriff court at Arbroath since his appointment. [32527]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The interim procurator fiscal at Arbroath has not appeared personally in the sheriff court there since his appointment.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trials were fixed and how many and what percentage of trials proceeded with evidence led in respect of (i) the sheriff courts of Arbroath and Forfar and district courts of Arbroath, Brechin and Forfar and (ii) the remainder of the sheriff courts and district courts within the sheriffdom of Tayside Central and Fife between (a) January and December 1994, (b) January and December 1995 and (c) December 1995 and April 1996. [32508]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Figures for the district courts are not held centrally. Figures for the sheriff courts are as follows.

Trial fixed Trials evidence led Percentage of trials evidence led to trials fixed
January to December 1994
Arbroath 578 147 25
Forfar 438 100 23
Remaining courts 9,314 2,390 26
January to December 1995
Arbroath 486 90 19
Forfar 398 68 17
Remaining courts 8,768 1,916 22
December 1995 to April 1996
Arbroath 175 18 10
Forfar 75 25 33
Remaining courts 3,379 733 22