HC Deb 17 March 1998 vol 308 c568W
22. Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the legal status of concordats to be agreed between the Scottish Parliament and Government Departments. [33176]

Mr. McLeish

Concordats are to be agreed between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive, rather than with the Scottish Parliament. The guidance note which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 27 February made clear that the purpose of the proposed concordats would not be to create legal obligations on either party, or to constrain the discretion of the Scottish Executive or that of the UK Government.