§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations he has had from the International Bar Association in relation to the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [9943]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIt is my understanding that neither the Attorney-General nor the Lord Advocate has received representations from the International Bar Association in relation to the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. In May 1995 the Lord Advocate received intimation from the president of the International Bar Association of a motion concerning the establishment of a permanent international criminal court which was to be put before the council of the International Bar Association in Edinburgh in June 1995. In May 1996 the president of the International Bar Association wrote once again to the Lord Advocate inviting him, or a representative from the Crown Office, to attend the conference being held jointly by the International Bar Association and the Arab Lawyers Union. That invitation was declined. The Lord Advocate has received a report of the discussions at the conference including the proposals of the keynote speaker, Professor Bassiouni, concerning trial in Scotland. These proposals are, in fact, broadly in line with the approach that the Lord Advocate and Her Majesty's Government have taken to the case and the undertakings concerning the fair trial and treatment of the accused which have already been given to the Libyans.