HC Deb 30 January 1995 vol 253 cc498-500W
Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

Mr. Lang

The numbers of women employed in the Scottish Office, its executive agencies, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, and associated departments at 1 April in the years from 1991 to 1994 and those at grade 7, grade 3, executive officer, administrative officer and administrative assistant levels were as follows:

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence the United States legal authorities gave to the Crown Office to support the indictment of Libyan suspects in connection with the Lockerbie bombing; when the evidence was received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The Lockerbie investigation was carried out in close co-operation with the United States authorities. Criminal proceedings are pending and it would be improper to give details of evidence in the case.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Crown Office first learned of the existence of the de-classified US Air Force Intelligence Agency files which refer to the bombing of the Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The Crown Office first learned of the existence of this report from a press enquiry on 23 January 1995.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Crown Office received a copy of the de-classified United States Air Force Intelligence Agency files which refer to the bombing of the Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The Crown Office received a copy of the report on 24 January 1995.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Crown Office was first informed of the contents of the de-classified United States Air Force Intelligence Agency files which refer to the bombing of the Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The Crown Office was first informed of the contents of the report on 23 January 1995 but was already well aware of allegations which are set out in that document.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates of the meetings which have been held between the Crown Office and the United States Air Force Intelligence Agency to discuss the contents of United States Air Force Intelligence Agency de-classified files which refer to the bombing of the Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie, the names of the individuals present and in what capacity they attended; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

No such meetings have been held.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates of the telephone discussions which have been held between the Crown Office and the United States Air Force Intelligence Agency to discuss the contents of United States Air Force Intelligence Agency de-classified files which refer to the bombing of the Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

No such discussions have taken place.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of delegations involving United States law officers and representatives of US Air Force Intelligence Agency to the United Kingdom to discuss the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing, the meetings they attended and the matters discussed.

Mr. Lang

No delegations involving United States Air Force Intelligence Agency representatives have taken part in discussions in the United Kingdom concerning the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. United States law enforcement officers, based in the United States and in the United Kingdom, have met Scottish police and prosecution authorities frequently during the Lockerbie investigation and a liaison officer of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation was based at Lockerbie during much of the most active period of the Lockerbie investigation. The discussions of such officers were confidential.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of trips involving representatives of the Crown Office to the United States of America as part of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing, the meetings they attended and the matters discussed.

Mr. Lang

Representatives of the Crown Office have visited the United States on a number of occasions for confidential discussions concerning the Lockerbie investigation, which was carried out in close co-operation with the United States authorities. It would be inappropriate to give details of these meetings and discussions.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the Crown Office has made of the relevance of the de-classified US Air Force Intelligence Agency documents for the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The report quotes an untried source relying on "second and third party information" as stating that the former Iranian Interior Minister paid $10 million to have the Lockerbie bombing carried out. It contains no evidence to substantiate a story which was already well known and has not so far been otherwise substantiated. It has, accordingly, no present relevance to the investigation.

Back to