Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has responded to the proposals by the Scottish Courts Service to change the future structure of Scotland’s courts, which have been accepted by the Scottish Government, by stating that Inverness should remain a High Court venue to ensure that cities all over Scotland will on occasion host the High Court.

Dave said: “It is important that Inverness retains its status as one of the highest courts in the land. The proposal to make only Aberdeen. Edinburgh and Glasgow High Courts appears to have been taken just on the grounds of population, and do not take into account the large distances involved for people in the Highlands and Islands."

The proposal from the Scottish Courts Service suggests that the High court should be able to sit outside of the three cities, but only at Greenock, Paisley, Dumbarton, Livingston and Dunfermline. Dave believes that Inverness should be added to this as a possible venue for the high court, which would ensure a better geographic spread of locations.

Dave added: “Although the Highlands and Islands have a relatively small population relative to the central belt, the Highlands are a large area of Scotland and not allowing for the possibility of the High Court meeting anywhere means that the impact of these proposals will disproportionately affect people in the Highlands and Islands.

“It is already the case that a large majority of High Court cases take place in Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow, as we would expect given their populations, but I believe it is important that we do not rule out future High Court sessions in Inverness.”