§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the division of Government responsibility relating to criminal matters between his Department and the Scottish Executive after 1 July. [87617]
§ Dr. ReidFrom 1 July, Scottish criminal law, procedure and evidence will be matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Ministers, with the exception of matters which are reserved under Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 or are otherwise outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament under section 29 of the Act. The Lord Advocate will continue to have responsibility for decisions relating to the institution of criminal proceedings in Scotland and for the systems of criminal prosecution and the investigation of deaths in Scotland.