Written question asked by Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 3 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 June 1998. It was answered by Henry McLeish (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 June 1998 on behalf of the Scottish Office.

Scottish Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the total number of working days and cost thereof in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98 in respect of which ad hoc deputies were engaged by the Procurator Fiscal Service in each regional area of the service. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of working days and cost thereof in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98 in respect of which ad hoc deputies were engaged by the Procurator Fiscal Service in each regional area of the service. [44812] Mr. McLeish: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service is an independent Government Department under the direction of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. The total number of working days and cost of ad hoc Procurator Fiscal deputies by region for 1996-97 and 1997-98 were: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1996-97 1997-98 Days Cost (£) Days Cost (£) Grampian 242 31,509 81 10,575 Tayside 890 115,678 113 14,681 Lothian 67 8,752 164 21,337 Glasgow 556 72,359 605 78,727 N. Strathclyde 291 37,887 194 25,272 S. Strathclyde 121 15,755 52 6,836 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The number of days are approximate and have been derived by dividing the known total cost by an average daily cost.

Secondary information