Mediation services to be expanded

The aim is to give people an alternative to court action

The piloting of two new in-court mediation services aimed at offering an alternative to proceedings in minor civil disputes has been announced.

Alongside Aberdeen and Glasgow sheriff court schemes, the deputy justice minister has also promised £180,000 for the Scottish Mediation Network.

Hugh Henry opened two mediation rooms at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in July.

The minister said mediation offers a constructive and less stressful alternative to going to court.

Mr Henry said it was hoped that the Glasgow pilot would be launched later this year and the Aberdeen scheme early in 2006.

He added that the two-year Scottish Executive finance package for the mediation network would help in developing services.

This work will put Scotland at the forefront of developing mediation standards in Europe Ian McDonough Scottish Mediation Network

Mr Henry said: "Going to court can be a stressful, time-consuming and expensive process and I am delighted to be able to support the constructive process of mediation.

"Obviously for some problems mediation is not the answer and going to court might be the better option, but the executive greatly supports efforts to promote other ways of dealing with many different types of complaint."

The minister said it was expected that the two new projects would cost about £30,000 a year.

An estimated 100 people have benefited from mediation in the past two years, the executive said.

Ian McDonough, chairman of the mediation network, said: "This executive funding will allow us to develop a framework for assuring the quality of all forms of mediation in Scotland.

"This work will put Scotland at the forefront of developing mediation standards in Europe."