§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to appeal against the findings of Sheriff James R. Smith in the case of the Procurator Fiscal v. Andrew Marshall; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe question of an appeal against the decision of a sheriff in a criminal case is not one for the Secretary of State for Scotland. The procurator fiscal in whose name the proceedings were raised has, however, marked an appeal against the sheriff's decision and the matter will, accordingly, come before the High Court of Justiciary shortly. In the circumstances any further statement would be quite inappropriate.