asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether there is a backlog of cases in the sheriff court and High Court; and what measures are being taken to deal with this problem.

Because of the time limits which operate in Scotland, there is no significant delay in cases of serious crime. So far as summary crime is concerned, the average time between the police reporting to the procurator fiscal and the calling of that case in court is two months. If there is a plea of not guilty and a trial, the time between calling and trial diet is between one and five months.