Seòmar agus comataidhean

The information provided by the Scottish Court Service for the number of summary complaints dealt with at each of the courts requested is set out in the following table:Sheriff Court - Summary Criminal

	1990-2000	2000-01	2001-02	April-June2002
Summary Complaints Registered
Lochmaddy	89	99	87	17
Tain	557	497	618	157
Dingwall	513	435	471	129
Portree	50	90	77	18
Summary Complaints Concluded
Lochmaddy	98	90	84	15
Tain	542	485	585	151
Dingwall	441	464	462	113
Portree	58	73	83	18
Summary Trials Evidence Led
Lochmaddy	4	4	8	5
Tain	41	31	26	7
Dingwall	27	17	28	12
Portree	7	8	6	2

Population projections for areas smaller than council areas are not available. The latest, 2000 based, population projections up to the year 2016 for council areas within Scotland is published by the Registrar General in Table 1 of the booklet Population Projections, Scotland (2000 based). A copy of the booklet is available in the Parliament's Information Centre. This publication predicts a consistently decreasing population size for the Borders after 2003.Information on population trends was considered by the Scottish Court Service when examining the case for renovating Peebles Courthouse, but it was concluded did not materially affect the viability of Peebles Sheriff Courthouse.

The information provided by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service for each of the courts is set out in the following table:Sheriff Court Civil

	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	April-June2002
Ordinary Actions
Lochmaddy	37	43	30	6
Tain	119	150	148	36
Dingwall	243	229	214	51
Portree	89	86	70	19
Peebles	115	118	111	34
Summary Cause
Lochmaddy	10	14	11	2
Tain	175	188	126	8
Dingwall	109	99	119	22
Portree	45	39	43	3
Peebles	58	109	84	18
Small Claims
Lochmadday	47	23	26	1
Tain	283	148	120	17
Dingwall	258	171	163	30
Portree	100	59	45	14
Peebles	109	93	86	23
Total
Lochmaddy	94	80	67	9
Tain	577	486	394	61
Dingwall	610	499	496	103
Portree	234	184	158	36
Peebles	282	320	281	75

I have been advised by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service that it is not possible to provide a separate figure for refurbishment since some of the general maintenance expenditure on the court can include an element of refurbishment. The total spent on the maintenance and refurbishment of Jedburgh Sheriff Court in each of the last five years is set out in the following table. The expenditure in 2001-02 included a general redecoration of the court and provision of a new fire detection system.

Jedburgh Sheriff CourtMaintenance and Refurbishment Expenditure	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02
	£3,800	£28,700	£18,739	£14,600	£161,985

The Principal Reporter will refer to a children's hearing any child considered to be in need of compulsory measures of care. The decision is not influenced by availability of resources available to local authorities to implement disposals from a hearing. Children's hearings make decisions based on the best interests of the child.

I have been advised by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service that the council offices at Rosetta Road do not at present have sufficient available ancillary accommodation suitable for the sheriff, procurator fiscal, solicitors, witnesses and to hold prisoners in custody for it to be used as a sheriff courthouse.

The cost of providing night-time sanitation is not separately identifiable from the other necessary improvements in living conditions in the prison service. The independently verified costs of improving the estate were set out in the Executive's consultation paper of the future of the Scottish Prison Service estate, which show that the public sector whole life costs would be about double those of the private sector for the same quality of output.

There are no secure places designed specifically for young people with a physical disability or who are have a clinical diagnosis of a mental health disorder. As part of the Executive's implementation of the 10-point youth crime action plan, I am currently examining options for the re-configuration of the secure estate.I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26764, Table 3 of which gives the number of male and female residents on 31 March in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Places are currently not segregated with the exception of the six bed unit for girls only which has operated in Kerelaw since 2001.

I have been advised by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service that no new sheriff courthouses have been built since May 1999, but a number have been extensively refurbished.

Ministers have no powers to direct that private solicitors undertake legal aid work; this is a commercial decision by solicitors. I understand that a legal aid practitioner in Peebles, which undertook 15 cases in 2000-01, has decided not to undertake new civil legal aid cases. There are, however, two firms of solicitors who provide civil legal aid in Galashiels and a further two firms in Selkirk.The provision of legal advice and representation in rural areas is a priority area for pilot work as part of the Review of Legal Information and Advice Provision in Scotland.