asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of probation orders made by the Scottish courts in each of the following years: (a) 1972, (b) 1973, (c) 1974, (d) 1975 and (e) 1976, to date.

The number of persons who were placed on probation as a principal disposal by Scottish courts in each of these years was: (a) 1084, (b) 2,998, (c) 2,854, (d) 2,695. The figure for 1975 is provisional. Figures for 1976 are not available.