§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines the Lord Advocate lays down for those conducting criminal inquiries, in substance, on his behalf, on the practice of giving interviews to the press.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe then Lord Advocate issued guidelines to chief constables on dealings with the press in relation to criminal inquiries in July 1983. These guidelines were also issued to procurators fiscal. They are kept under review in the light of changes and developments in the law. They cover what may be said at various stages of inquiries.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Lord Advocate intends to take as a result of the premature disclosure of the conclusions of the inquiry conducted by Mr. Nimmo Smith.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe conclusions of Mr. Nimmo Smith and Mr. Friel following their inquiry have not been disclosed. It is intended that their report will be published before the end of January, as my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has already made known.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it was with the authority of the Lord Advocate638W that Mr. Nimmo Smith QC gave interviews to journalists about the inquiry that he is currently conducting for the Lord Advocate.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe remit of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate to Mr. Nimmo Smith and Mr. Friel was that they should exercise the fullest possible independence of judgment in conducting their investigation. Authority to speak to journalists was not therefore sought by them.