Question reference: S1W-00158
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 21 June 1999
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Current status: Answered by Andrew Hardie on 13 July 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) to detail for each Sheriffdom the number of individuals reported over the last three years to the Procurator Fiscal's service regarding contraventions of the misuse of drugs legislation relating to the possession of cannabis or cannabis resin; (b) to specify the number dealt with by summary complaint, fixed penalty notice or warning letter over this period and (c) to specify the guidelines for selecting which of these courses of action is to be followed.
Answer
The information necessary to answer parts (a) and (b) of the question in relation to the particular drugs specified is not kept either centrally by Crown Office or by individual Procurator Fiscal's offices.In relation to part (c), I have issued guidance to Procurators Fiscal regarding the marking of cases generally as suitable for prosecution by summary complaint or alternatively as suitable for disposal by the making of a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (fiscal fine) or for disposal by means of a warning letter. The guidance issued includes specification of circumstances in which those means of disposal would be inappropriate. The guidance issued by me to Procurators Fiscal is confidential and it is not in the public interest to publish it.