§ Mr. DouglasTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the most recent approaches made by his Department to Sheriff Kearney in relation to the anticipated receipt and publication by his Department of the report into the operations of the social work department of Fife region, indicating the response and the number of days which the sheriff has taken to prepare and finish his report together with the costs of his Department and others involved.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythSince May 1990 we have corresponded on a number of occasions with Sheriff Kearney about progress on his report and a likely completion date. In his most recent response last month he indicated that he was unable to give a firm date.
The costs of the inquiry directly borne by the Scottish Office to date amount to some £600,000. I have no information on the costs incurred by others involved.