§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the public interest immunity certificates issued in respect of the Lockerbie investigation, and the fatal accident inquiry; and to whom they were issued. [28638]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFive public immunity certificates were signed by Government Ministers in connection with the Lockerbie fatal accident inquiry in relation to matters or documents which Ministers considered not, in the public interest, be the subject of evidence. The then Secretary of State for Transport signed four certificates which dealt with aviation security measures, the size and shape of the improvised explosive device in the radio cassette recorder, the weight of explosives and the content of confidential communications by other Governments. The then Home Secretary signed a certificate which related to information concerning national security. None of these certificates required to be produced at the fatal accident inquiry.
In 1992, the then Secretary of State for Transport signed two certificates and the then Lord Advocate signed two certificates relating to the Lockerbie disaster concerning the taking of evidence for proceedings in the United States. The taking of that evidence, however, did not proceed.