§ Lord Daresburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects.
§ The Lord Advocate (Lord Mackay of Drumadoon)I have recently agreed with the Scottish Law Commission a Fifth Programme of Law Reform. This was presented to Parliament yesterday and is published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The new programme, which supersedes the existing four programmes, describes the short, medium and long-term projects on which the Commission will be working between now and the end of 1999. Timetables are set for the short and medium term projects.
The centrepiece of the projects in the Fifth Programme is the Commission's work on property, including feudal tenure reform and reform of the law of the tenement. Recommendations on the law of the tenement are expected before the end of 1997 and on feudal tenure reform before the end of 1999. Other matters on which recommendations are expected before the end of 1997 include diligence on the dependence and admiralty arrestments and unjustified enrichment.
The Government welcome this programme, which concentrates on a number of important and timely law reform projects. The fixing of priorities and timetables is particularly welcome and will help all of those with an interest in law reform to keep track of and prepare for changes in the law which the Commission might recommend.