§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the criteria on which his office and the Lord Advocate will base a decision to issue a public interest immunity certificate in relation to proceedings before the courts.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonPublic interest immunity is claimed where the Secretary of State or the Lord Advocate considers that it would be injurious to the public interest for particular matters to be the subject of evidence. The particular interest to be protected will vary according to the particular circumstances of the case.