§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report of Lord Hunter's inquiry into the murder of Mrs. Rachel Ross will be presented to the House; and when copies will be available to the public.
§ Mr. YoungerAs a Return to the Order of the House made yesterday, I have arranged for the presentation in dummy this afternoon of the report of the inquiry by Lord Hunter into the whole circumstances of the murder of Mrs. Rachel Ross at Ayr in July 1969, and the action taken by the police, the Crown Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department relating to that case.
The report, which will be in four volumes, will be published on Thursday 5 August; it will be priced at £47. It will be published in full subject only to a few minor excisions. I very much regret that, due mainly to the extended process of printing so lengthy a document, it has not proved possible to publish it before the House adjourns. Considerable time is required to read the report and reach a view on its contents. I look forward to hearing Members' views when the House returns, and those of the many others who have an interest in the report, as a necessary preliminary to deciding, in consultation with the Lord Advocate, what, if any, action may be called for in the light of Lord Hunter's findings.