asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the continuing delays and postponements of pleading diets and trials and of congestion at Glasgow sheriff courts; if he is further aware that the measures announced by him on 5th February, 1962, to deal with this problem have not proved adequate; and what further proposals he has to deal with the back-log of cases, and to reduce the time and money spent by solicitors and civil and police witnesses.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the criminal business of the Glasgow sheriff court is increasing and that the court is congested. The long-term solution may be the provision of a new courthouse and at my right hon. Friend's request the Courthouse Commissioners have provided an estimate of requirements which is now being considered by his Department and by the Ministry of Public Building and Works.

While appreciating the information which the hon. Lady has given the House, may I ask whether she will bear in mind that figures which her right hon. Friend recently supplied to me show that in the month of November, 1962, no fewer than a quarter of all the cases awaiting trial had to wait for four to six months and that in November, 1963, this had increased to two-thirds? With this increasing sense of urgency will her right hon. Friend look at the problem with a view to giving it some priority?

Yes. The hon. Member will no doubt recall that in Feruary an extra sheriff substitute was appointed, and another two in the fall of last year, and that two extra court rooms were added. This certainly had an effect in reducing the congestion, but unfortunately the volume of crime is increasing.