§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal concerning the investigation of on-field incidents at football matches and other sporting occasions.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis is a matter for my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Advocate. He has not issued such guidelines, nor does he consider them to be necessary. Incidents involving criminal conduct on the field of play are treated in the same way as offences committed elsewhere.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of(a) professional and (b) amateur sportsmen successfully prosecuted in each of the past 10 years for offences committed during the course of their sporting activities.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAs regards professional sportsmen, the information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate costs. As regards amateur sportsmen, the information is not available.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with(a) the Scottish Football Association, (b) the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association or (c) any other body over the guidelines which should be applied in considering whether a prosecution should arise from incidents during football matches.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis is a matter for my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Advocate, who I am told has had no such discussions. The procurator fiscal at Glasgow has, however, agreed to meet the secretary of the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association, on Monday 9 November to discuss matters arising from the Rangers v Celtic football match on 17 October.