Lockerbie (Hansard, 25 May 1994)

§ 3. Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) of 27 April, Official Report, columns 227–28, that he has not seen any evidence that would cause him not to proceed with the criminal charges that have already been brought in respect of the Lockerbie bombing, what account the Lord Advocate has taken of the statements by Edwin Bollier and Ulrich Lumpart concerning crucial timing devices and the Stasi known to 10 Downing street and the Foreign Office.

§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Ian Lang)
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has taken account of all evidence made available to him in respect of the Lockerbie bombing.

§ Mr. Dalyell
In that case the Lord Advocate cannot have taken account of all the evidence. Why does he not ask for Lumpart and Bollier to be interviewed by either the Crown Office or the police? Is the Crown Office not being a bit lazy?

§ Mr. Lang
The hon. Gentleman persists in setting himself up as some kind of amateur sleuth in this matter. The fact is that my noble and learned Friend has taken full account of all the evidence open to him, and nothing in the evidence that he has received has prompted him to consider any change in the charges that he wishes to make. I think that the hon. Gentleman should support him and the Government in seeking to enable the trial to take place.

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
Leading and respected Scottish advocates and lawyers have stated clearly and publicly that a fair trial before a Scottish jury is simply not possible because of recent press coverage. The Libyan Government have said that they would willingly send the two accused to any other country in the world. In view of those facts, does the Secretary of State agree that—in fairness to the relatives of the victims of this appalling disaster—it would be better for the Government to consider legislation for a trial in, for instance, The Hague, so that the truth of this 320 dreadful issue could at least emerge? That would be better than the present circumstances, in which nothing happens for years.

§ Mr. Lang
The investigation took place under Scots law, and the charges are being brought on that basis. There is no evidence to support the contention that the Libyan Government would be any more amenable to holding a trial in any other country, even if that were possible—and it would be extremely difficult in the circumstances.

§ Dr. Godman
Is not the truth that the case is unlikely to come to court? Without the evidence provided by my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), the issue would slip away from public attention. What is wrong with holding an ad hoc international tribunal, chaired by a Scots judge, in The Hague or some other mutually acceptable capital? Surely that is the way in which to enable the case to be prosecuted.

§ Mr. Lang
A Scottish court cannot sit abroad.Before it could do so, complex legislation would be required, no doubt in both countries. There is no evidence that the Libyans would be any more amenable to that course. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Crown Office does not intend to let the matter slip away, as he put it.

§ Mr. Dalyell
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I hope to raise the matter on the Adjournment.