Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East has questioned the Scottish Government on what savings will be secured following the SNP Court Closures.
The North East MSP has called on Audit Scotland to be tasked to look at the closures to investigate if Scottish taxpayers have seen any such level of savings.
Sheriff courts in Dornoch, Duns, Kirkcudbright, Peebles, Rothesay, Cupar, Dingwall, Arbroath, Haddington and Stonehaven have been closed with Justice of the peace courts in Annan, Irvine, Motherwell, Cumbernauld, Portree, Stornoway and Wick also shut.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“We have already seen our justice system impacted by delays in cases being heard, and given that the many concerns expressed by campaigners about the unseen costs to the proposals to close 11 Sheriff Courts have now come true.
“The SNP Scottish Government have preceded over these botched court closures yet Kenny MacAskill does not feel any regret for the way in which the Scottish Government have handle the closures. SNP Ministers seem to have their heads buried in the sand on this as well as many other issues facing Scotland.
“The SNP rushed into this move, even though it has been well warned that it will result in huge inconvenience to witnesses and victims, and cause delays in an already overburdened system. Local courts in towns across Scotland play a vital role in serving justice in those communities, and ensuring accountability is maintained in that area.
“The Scottish Court System is already over-burdened with work and will have to take on even more cases, and that will risk lengthy delays to sensitive and significant cases.
“Kenny MacAskill forced these closures through to save money without thinking for a minute about the consequences, which are resulting in more cost and trial delays as the Crown and Procurators Fiscal are put under intolerable pressure. The SNP Scottish Government should be learning lessons now from what is happening on the ground, and stop the rest of the planned closures.”
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East added:
“Kenny MacAskill was unable to actually outline any savings which the SNP court closures have delivered to date and failed to answer whether or not Audit Scotland will look into the savings which have where originally outlined. I believe is it important for Audit Scotland be tasked to look at the closures to investigate if Scottish taxpayers have seen any such level of savings.
“I have today written to Kenny MacAskill and Audit Scotland to ask that they undertake a review into the Court Closures to see what actual savings and additional cost have been achieved. Scottish taxpayers have the right to know how poor decision making at the hands of the SNP Scottish Government is impacting on our public services.”