asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in the Scottish court administration; and what increase there has been in that number over the last five years.

The number of staff employed in the Scottish courts administration at 1 October 1974 and at 1 October 1979 was 47; the staff employed in the Scottish courts and other bodies for which the administration is responsible was 690 and 813 at 1 October 1974 and 1979 respectively.