asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances it is the practice to handcuff persons being brought to court in custody.

This is a matter for the discretion of the police, who are responsible for the safe custody of prisoners. But my Department has advised chief constables that handcuffs should, in general, not be used unless there are reasonable grounds for supposing that violence may be expected, or that an escape or a rescue will be attempted, or unless the nature of the offence is such as to render handcuffing clearly desirable.