§ Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement (a) on his actions since his undertakings in the Scottish Grand Committee debate on Lord Hunter's report on the Ross murder inquiry on 7 December 1982 and (b) on the question of ex gratia compensation for Mr. Meehan.
§ Mr. YoungerDuring the debate in the Scottish Grand Committee on 7 December 1982 of Lord Hunter's report on his inquiry into the murder of Mrs. Rachel Ross at Ayr in July 1969 I told Members that Lord Hunter had made no recommendations in presenting his report to me. I had, however, drawn from his findings that there had been errors in the police investigations into the murder of Mrs. Ross. These have since been drawn to the attention of chief constables. The circular doing so made it clear that there had been many changes and improvements in police procedures, resources and equipment since 1969. None the less, each chief constable was asked to consider what lessons could be drawn from the report by his force; and these will be the subject of discussion during visits of inspection by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
I then also undertook to consider representations about the compensation offered to Mr. Meehan in 1977 by my predecessor the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Millan), although the question of compensation was not included in Lord Hunter's remit. Since Lord Hunter's remit did not extend to the making of any judgment on the guilt or innocence of Mr. Meehan or the decision to recommend the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy in Mr. Meehan's case, the starting point for any consideration of compensation is the decision by my predecessor in May 1976 to recommend to Her Majesty that a free pardon should be granted, for the reasons he then gave, and the fact that subsequently the right hon. Gentleman decided to offer compensation to Mr. Meehan. I have noted that the adequacy of the offer—which was not accepted by Mr. Meehan — has attracted some adverse comment and that the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan himself feels that it should be reviewed. I have decided to withdraw that offer, and to seek a completely fresh assessment of a possible grant of ex gratia compensation. I am glad that Mr. D. A. O. Edward CMG, QC, has been good enough to undertake to advise me in this matter. The procedure to be followed will be — mutatis mutandis to meet the Scottish situation —that 457W described to the House by the then Home Secretary on 29 July 1976 — [Vol. 916–2, c. 328–30.] The assessor's remit prepared by the Scottish Home and Health Department will refer, inter alia, to Lord Hunter's report — HC 444 — and the report of the Scottish Grand Committee debate on 7 December 1982, and to any representations which Mr. Meehan's solicitors wish the assessor to consider. Under the 1976 procedure the assessor will also afford to Mr. Meehan and his solicitors the opportunity of an interview, but he will not entertain representations from other sources.