Sheriff Courts (Hansard, 16 February 1999)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from lawyers about a decline in their work at sheriff courts because of changes in administrative practice. [70344]

§ Mr. McLeish
None.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
645W

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of changes in the last five years in the(a) number and (b) proportion of cases that are going to the Sheriff Court as a result of changes in administrative practice. [70343]

§ Mr. McLeish
The long-term trend has been for growth in business in the Sheriff Courts. In the past 5 years, the general trend in summary and solemn business and in civil business has been for a small reduction in the number of cases and for a small increase in the average of length of cases going to trial or proof. Many factors influence trends in court business but there is no evidence that administrative practice in the courts has significantly affected the national picture.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.