§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the costs to public funds of bringing to court the case against Professor Donald Macleod, broken down to show those relating to(a) the police, (b) the Procurator Fiscal Service and (c) the Crown Office. [34963]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that the costs of summary cases which proceed to trial can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, including the length of the trial. Procurators fiscal do not keep a record of the amount of time spent on individual cases. The information requested about the cost of the case against Professor Macleod is not therefore readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Lothian and Borders police have been able to calculate that their salary costs amounted to approximately £3,000.
486W
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Crown Office proposes to take following the summing up in the case against Professor Donald Macleod. [35255]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has asked the procurator fiscal to submit a report on the trial. A decision on whether any further action should be taken will be made by Crown counsel following a consideration of that report.