§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the present policy of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board following the decision in an English case before the Court of Appeal (Regina v Ex Parte Berry) that copies of precognitions obtained from witnesses be made available to the applicant only on the day of the hearing itself.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo. This practice reflects the obligation upon the board to protect witnesses' 587W precognitions from improper use; the board's procedures ensure that applicants are given adequate time, by way of an adjournment if necessary, to study precognitions before their case is heard.