§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics his Department collates on the interval between a charge being made by the police and appearance in court by the accused for different offences in different parts of Scotland. [4725]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe statistics requested are not collated by the Scottish Office. It is not always necessary for the police to charge an accused before reporting that accused to the procurator fiscal for consideration for prosecution.