§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines are given to procurators fiscal about the use of fiscal fines. [70187]
§ Mr. McLeishMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, who is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, informs me that guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. The details of those guidelines form part of prosecution policy and are confidential.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change in the guidance about which cases should go to the Sheriff Court and which to the district court has been issued in the last five years. [70188]
§ Mr. McLeishMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland. Guidance to procurators fiscal has been issued following legislative provisions which have introduced variable and increased levels of fiscal fines; extended the jurisdiction and powers of the courts; and created new offences and penalties. Further guidance has been issued to procurators fiscal to ensure a consistent approach to the use of fiscal fines and to encourage them to make more extensive use of this alternative to prosecution in the district court. He informs me that the choice of court is determined by considerations of jurisdiction, the gravity of the offence, the offender's record and the likely penalty. The details of the guidance issued to procurators fiscal about prosecution policy are confidential.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
279W
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the overall number of fiscal fines in each of the sheriffdoms in Scotland in each of the years since they were introduced. [70186]
Year Grampian, Highland and Islands Tayside, Central and Fife Lothian and Borders North Strathclyde South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Glasgow and Strathkelvin 1988 2,393 1,210 860 1,984 1,809 1,048 1989 2,359 2,363 1,912 3,450 3,509 1,963 1990–91 2,091 3,898 1,875 3,614 3,163 2,188 1991–92 1,908 3,048 2,191 2,955 2,918 2,038 1992–93 2,221 4,101 1,714 3,142 3,242 3,934 1993–94 1,785 3,098 1,859 2,437 3,123 3,278 1994–95 1,946 3,370 1,442 2,003 3,517 3,768 1995–96 1,863 2,367 1,538 1,570 2,862 5,854 1996–97 2,330 2,565 1,253 1,839 3,589 3,562 1997–98 2,136 3,003 1,582 2,651 4,088 5,501 1998–99 2,280 2,172 1,104 2,032 2,938 3,580 Notes
1. The figures for 1988 and 1989 are for calendar years.
2. The figures for the first quarter of 1990 are not included.
3. Prior to April 1996 inconsistencies in the method of recording statistics for fiscal fines existed.
4. The figures for the financial year 1998–99 relate to the period to December 1998.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.