§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the arrangements for reporting perceived cases of maladministration by local procurator fiscal's offices; how many such cases have been reported in relation to the operation of the procurator fiscal's office in Paisley since 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWhere my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate receives a complaint about the conduct of business in a procurator fiscal's office, he obtains an immediate and full report of the circumstances. Procurators fiscal know that they may be called upon at any time to explain their actings to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. In addition, a programme of practice review involves inspection of local offices. Procurators fiscal also submit monthly returns of their activities to the Crown Office. In matters of administration procurators fiscal are accountable through their regional procurator fiscal to the Crown Agent. Regional procurators fiscal have powers to visit and inspect offices in their regions, and routinely do so. Local offices are also subject to regular financial auditing.
There have been no reports of maladministration as such in relation to the operation of the procurator fiscal's office at Paisley, although a number of complaints have recently been made about the handling of particular cases by that office. The Crown Agent has discussed these with the procurator fiscal, and certain new procedures have been adopted as a result.