§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) guidance and (b) instructions are issued to serving police officers of superintendent rank and above, concerning invitations to speak at meetings where (i) the invitation is by virtue of being a serving police officer and (ii) the meeting is arranged by a political organisation. [4006]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonRegulation 4 and regulation 1 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations 1976 prohibit a police officer from taking an active part in politics but do not preclude an officer from accepting an invitation to speak at meetings arranged by political organisations.