28.
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many cases involving crimes of violence against the person have been prosecuted in the High Court at Glasgow so far in the current year.
There have been 53 cases prosecuted in the High Court at Glasgow so far this year, 47 of which involved allegations of violence against the person. I should point out to my hon. Friend that these figures include 16 cases from areas outwith Glasgow, 14 of which concerned allegations of violence against the person.
I thank my hon. Friend for that reply Does he agree that the Criminal Justice Act, which was put through by the Conservative Administration, has helped substantially the administration of justice in that court?
Yes. It might be premature to make too many claims for the effects of the Criminal Justice Act 1980. However, there have been some very interesting developments with regard to such provisions relating to judicial examinations and I am confident that, from what we have seen so far, the Act will prove highly beneficial in the administration of criminal justice in Scotland.
Does the Solicitor-General for Scotland agree that he is hiding behind the shortfall of 150 police officers in the Strathclyde police force and attributing to that the drastic increase in crime since the Tory Government came to power? If that is so, can he explain how it was that crime in Glasgow was much lower under the Labour Government, when the Strathclyde police force was 600 below strength? How is it that, with all the new police officers, there is much more crime in Glasgow? Does he not agree that that is scathing indictment of the Tory Government and another example of a broken promise made at the last general election?
The hon. Gentleman's attitude is remarkable when one bears in mind his opposition to the Criminal Justice Act. That legislation was welcomed by chief constables and police forces throughout Scotland as part of the necessary weapons in the fight against crime in Scotland and Glasgow in particular.