Whether it will list the cases currently under review by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and in each case (a) specify the dat…

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has a duty of confidentiality to applicants whose cases are being reviewed both under statute and in terms of the privacy provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights. For this reason it is not possible to give details of individual cases. However, I understand from the Commission that up until 7 October, it had received a total of 79 cases. Final decisions to refer or not to refer the matter to the Appeal Court have been made in 5 cases and decisions are imminent in 6. A further 28 cases are under consideration, while review of 11 cases is in abeyance pending the outcome of appeals or of steps by applicants to lodge appeals. Review of the remaining 29 cases will commence as existing cases are dealt with. An additional case worker is being appointed to meet the demand.Of the total of 79 cases received by the Commission, 19 were originally submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland and were transferred to the Commission when it came into operation on 1st April of this year. Thirty-two cases were received by the Commission in their first 3 months of operation and 28 cases in the period from 1 July to 7 October.Of the 19 cases first referred to the Secretary of State, 11 were received at various dates in the 12 months before the Commission assumed its functions and 8 were received prior to that.