- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 12 new permanent Sheriffs appointed in December 1999 previously held temporary Sheriff commissions and, of these, how many had held commissions as temporary Sheriffs for more than two years.
Answer
Eight of the new appointees had held Commissions as temporary Sheriffs, of whom one had held his commission for more than two years.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2537 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 November 1999, whether its current policy, pending the issue of a consultation paper on the arrangements for recommending appointment of Judges and Sheriffs, is that the Lord Advocate, as head of the prosecutions service and a member of the Scottish Executive, will continue to play a key role in the appointment of Judges and Sheriffs.
Answer
The First Minister will continue to receive advice on the appointment of Judges and Sheriffs from the Lord Advocate reflecting appropriate soundings taken by him.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases in (a) sheriffs courts; (b) the Court of Session and (c) the High Court of Justiciary have been adjourned as a result of the decision to suspend all temporary Sheriffs and Judges.
Answer
For the months of November and December 1999, the number of cases in the sheriff court due to be heard before a temporary Sheriff which required to be adjourned is set out below:
Sheriff and Jury trials | Nil |
Summary Criminal trials | 13 of 6,245 cases calling for trial |
Ordinary Civil proofs and debates | 73 of 965 cases set down |
Summary Cause/Small Claims hearings | 48 of 533 cases set down |
During this period a further 196 summary criminal and 33 civil cases were adjourned for lack of time. It is not possible to say how many of these cases may have proceeded had temporary shrieval assistance been available.Adjustments to the programme in the Court of Session after 11 November 1999 have resulted in six cases set down for proof being reallocated to later dates. No cases in the High Court of Justiciary have been adjourned as a result of the suspension of the use of temporary Judges.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hearings in civil litigation in the Court of Session have been postponed due to the unavailability of Judges following the suspension of temporary Judges.
Answer
Adjustments to the programme in the Court of Session after 11 November 1999 have resulted in six cases set down for proof being reallocated to later dates.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target time period between plea and trial for summary trials in the Sheriff Court is approximately 12 weeks.
Answer
Sheriffs Principal have set target periods of 12 weeks between plea and summary trial for each Sheriff Court in their Sheriffdoms.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the instructions of Sheriffs Principal to Sheriffs to cancel leave, attendance at conferences or courses and writing days will now be withdrawn.
Answer
The Scottish Executive did not issue any instructions on these matters. Any steps taken by individual Sheriffs Principal were in accordance with their statutory duty to secure the speedy and efficient disposal of business in their Sheriffdoms. I have already acknowledged the professionalism shown by the Judiciary in responding to the extra demands on them arising from the suspension of temporary Sheriffs and temporary Judges.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is towards NHS Trust deficits.
Answer
All NHS Trusts have a duty to ensure high quality patient care whilst maintaining financial balance.Should a Trust overspend, it is required in conjunction with its health board to produce a recovery plan that will continue to protect patient care whilst making good its financial position within the next financial year.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is required to authorise PFI/PPP funding arrangements for upgrading the A701, and if so, whether Midlothian Council has applied for such authorisation, whether it has approved any application, and whether any proposals by Midlothian Council to upgrade the A701 have direct or indirect financial implications for the budget of the Scottish Executive and any future financial allocations made to Midlothian Council for transport projects.
Answer
Midlothian Council originally applied to the Scottish Office for the development of the A701 proposals as a PFI project and £2.5m additional capital consent was awarded from the previous Government's Transport Challenge Fund to help them develop such a specification.Subsequently the Level Playing Field Support earmarked for the A701 project, £2.016 million per annum, was transferred in agreement with the Council to help fund Midlothian's Dalkeith Schools project as part of a Public Private Partnership. The overall funding package for the A701 project is therefore now a matter for the Council but the Transport Challenge Fund award of £2.5 million continues to be advanced to the Council on the agreed phased arrangements. No additional funds will be allocated to the Council for the project.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether extra funding in respect of DNA will be made available comparable to the additional funding in England.
Answer
We are discussing the situation in respect of Scottish Forces with H.M. Treasury.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-851 and S1W-3472 by Henry McLeish on 5 November 1999 and 11 January 2000 respectively, whether it will lay the Quigley Report before the Parliament and what plans it has for a debate on it.
Answer
The Quigley Committee's report which is required to be delivered by April 2000 will be placed in the Scottish Parliament at the same time as it is laid before the Westminster Parliament. The Scottish Executive will consider its response when it has received the report.
