§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 13 February, Official Report, column 371, what steps the procurator fiscal of Glasgow took to ensure that he was legally justified in applying to the sheriff for a search warrant for the BBC.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI refer the hon. Member to the answers by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate in another place on 4 February 1987, at columns 199–205, and to my answer, at columns 259–60 on 13 February 1987.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland why officials of the Scottish Office were informed on Friday 30 January of the granting of a search warrant against the BBC in Glasgow.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandNo officials of the Scottish Office were informed by officials of my Department on Friday 30 January of the granting of a search warrant against the BBC in Glasgow.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland at what time on Friday 30 January the first warrant was granted for a police raid on BBC, Glasgow; and at what time the Lord Advocate informed the Secretary of State for Scotland of the grant of a warrant.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe first warrant was granted at approximately 2.15 pm on Friday 30 January. The Lord Advocate did not inform the Secretary of State for Scotland of the grant of a warrant at any time.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland who altered the typed date on the original communication relating to entry to the BBC, signed by an assistant procurator fiscal, from 30 January to 31 January; and why.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe typed date on the petition for a search warrant for the BBC Scotland
618W
Police Area Actual strength on 31 December 1986 England and Wales Police Officers Civilians Traffic Wardens Police Cadets Full-time Part-time Avon and Somerset 2,982 695 49 127 — Bedfordshire 995 268 69 33 — Cambridgeshire 1,148 346 77 43 — Cheshire 1,823 442 125 43 — Cleveland 1,467 309 93 26 — Cumbria 1,121 274 74 24 14 Derbyshire 1,761 641 179 77 — Devon and Cornwall 2,753 821 98 115 — Dorset 1,193 414 42 67 12 Durham 1,300 455 129 21 — Dyfed Powys 929 170 55 22 — Essex 2,718 718 183 Ill 12 Gloucestershire 1,152 206 91 33 — Greater Manchester 6,725 1,608 342 194 — premises was altered by the assistant procurator fiscal before he presented the petition to Sheriff Lockhart on 31 January 1987.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether a justice of the peace signed the warrant for the police search of the BBC premises in Glasgow.