§ 42. Mrs. Bainasked the Lord Advocate if he is satisfied with current legal practice pertaining to intent to defraud.
§ The Lord AdvocateNo general problems relating to current legal practice in this area have been drawn to my attention.
§ Mrs. BainIs the Lord Advocate satisfied with a legal system that allows consumers and garage owners no legal redress when wrong octane deliveries are made to garages? Is he satisfied with a system that leads to such confusion and in which there is no opening for prosecution by either the garage owner or the car owner?
§ The Lord AdvocateI do not accept the hon. Lady's general proposition. I have already written to her about a particular case, and there was no evidence of intent to defraud or of any other offence. The details of the case were consistent with a genuine mistake having been made.
§ Mr. CanavanIs the Lord Advocate in a position yet to say whether there is any evidence of fraud or any other offence in the Stock Exchange inquiry report or the information forwarded to the Department of Trade about Sir Hugh Fraser's company, Scottish and Universal Investments? Will he bear in mind the public concern about this unacceptable face of Scottish capitalism and its connection with the unacceptable face of Scottish nationalism?
§ The Lord AdvocateI appreciate that there is public concern, but I cannot add to the comments that I have already made.
§ Mr. HendersonLeaving aside the unacceptable face of Scottish Socialism in West Stirlingshire, does the Lord Advocate consider that the pledge in the Conservative manifesto for an elected Assembly in Scotland could come within the definition of intent to defraud?
§ The Lord AdvocateI have no comment to make.