§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 43, and the answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 626, if he will transfer responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing investigation to the Metropolitan police. [9023]
§ The Prime MinisterDumfries and Galloway Constabulary have from the outset conducted the Lockerbie Criminal Investigation. There is no reason to depart from that. The investigation relates to the mass murder of 270 people committed in Scotland. My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Advocate has responsibility for ensuring that crimes in Scotland are properly investigated and Section 12 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 authorises him to issue instructions to any Chief Constable with regard to reporting offences alleged to have been committed in his area. The transfer of this inquiry to the Metropolitan police would remove that power from the Lord Advocate in this case and would impede the proper investigation of it.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 43, what steps he proposes to bring to a conclusion the Lockerbie issue. [9024]
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§ The Prime MinisterAs I told my hon. Friend on 18 June,Official Report, column 509, we will try every avenue to make progress in this matter, but the onus is on Libya to comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.