§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions his Department has given to consultants regarding a review of the functions of the Scottish Legal Aid Board; and if he will make it his policy to place a copy of any report in the Library.
542W
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn accordance with current practice, the Scottish Office Home and Health Department is at present seeking the views of interested parties on the quinquennial policy and financial management review of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. As part of that process, a small number of interviews with a range of interested individuals are being organised by the Scottish Office central research unit. Professor Alan Alexander, professor of local and public management at the university of Strathclyde, who is a member of the steering group set up to oversee the review, is providing assistance with the analysis of the results of these interviews. No further consultancy input to the review has yet been commissioned. My right hon. Friend will consider in due course how the results of the review should be publicised.