Question reference: S1W-02579
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 16 November 1999
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Current status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 December 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, in relation to the Public Defence Solicitors' Office, (a) the number of clients serviced in 1998-99 on (i) a directed basis, and (ii) a voluntary basis, (b) the number of waivers from direction applied for and (i) refused and (ii) granted, and (c) the number of trials undertaken, pleas tendered and the number of pleas tendered at the trial diet.
Answer
The PDSO opened on 1 October 1998. By 31 March 1999, it had serviced 318 clients. Of these, 251 were directed and 67 were non-directed.
In the same period the PDSO received 382 waiver requests, of which 102 were refused and 280 were granted.
There were seven pleas of not guilty for which evidence was led at trial.The breakdown of pleas tendered at a trial diet is complex. This information is not currently available.