asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will list for each region of Scotland his most recent information on the number of arrests, cases where proceedings have been instituted, and convictions arising from the miners' strike; and if he will list the offences for which persons have been: (a) charged and (b) convicted.
The most readily available information is set out in the following tables.The first table details for each local authority region in Scotland the most recent information on, the number of persons arrested in relation to incidents arising from the miners' strike; the number of persons proceeded against by procurators fiscal in respect of offences arising out of the miners' strike and the number of persons convicted in respect of such offences. There are a number of such cases which have still to come to trial.The second table details the most recent information on the nature and number of charges brought by procurators fiscal which have resulted in conviction. A large number of those persons brought to trial were convicted of two or more charges.
| Table No. 1 | |||
| Local Authority Region | Number of Persons Arrested | Number of Persons Proceeded against by Procurators Fiscal | Number of Persons Convicted |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Central region | 44 | 39 | 17 |
| Fife region | 225 | 216 | 148 |
| Grampian | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lothian region | 474 | 436 | 272 |
| Borders region | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Strathclyde region | 745 | 309 | 151 |
| Highland region | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tayside region | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Table No. 2 | |
| Nature of the Charge | Number of Charges |
| Breach of the peace | 569 |
| Police (Scotland) Act 1967 section 41 | 220 |
| Bail Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 section 3 | 51 |
| Vandalism and malicious mischief | 27 |
| Assault | 6 |
| Possession of an offensive weapon | 5 |
| Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 | 4 |
| Careless driving | 1 |
| Reckless conduct | 1 |
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many police complaints have been recorded in the course of the miners' industrial dispute.
The information requested is not readily available and I will publish the information in the Official Report later.
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will list for the duration of the miners' dispute: (a) the number of people arrested and charged with an offence, (b) the number of people convicted and (c) the number of people acquitted, stating in each case the nature of the offence.
Pursuant to my reply on 11 March 1985 at column 17, the information for the period to 22 March 1985 is as follows:1,483 persons were arrested and charged by the police in connection with incidents arising out of the miners' strike. This figure cannot be broken down to reflect the nature of the alleged offence involved in each case. Of those persons prosecuted in respect of offences arising out of the miners' strike whose cases have been disposed of, 603 persons were convicted and 140 persons were acquitted. Information on the nature and number of the charges brought by procurators fiscal is set out in the following table. A large number of the persons brought to trial in respect of such offences faced two or more charges.
Nature of Charge
| Convictions
| Acquittals
|
| Breach of the peace | 569 | 109 |
| Police (Scotland) Act 1967, section 41 | 220 | 29 |
| Bail Etc (Scotland) Act 1980, section 3 | 51 | 2 |
| Vandalism and malicious mischief | 27 | 3 |
| Assault | 6 | 1 |
| Possession of an offensive weapon | 5 | 6 |
| Conspiracy and Prootection of Property Act 1875 | 4 | 0 |
| Theft | 0 | 3 |
| Explosive Substances Act 1883, section 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Reckless conduct | 1 | 0 |
| Careless driving | 1 | 1 |
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what proportion of convictions in Scotland as a result of offences during the miners' dispute are for (a) breach of the peace offences, (b) obstruction or other offences under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 and (c) offences under the Bail (Scotland) Act 1980.
Pursuant to my reply on 18 March 1985 at column 363–364, the information, based upon statistics for the period to 22 March 1985, is as follows: