§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest position in relation to starting criminal proceedings on the Lockerbie bombing. [70834]
§ Mr. McLeishThe arrest warrants which were obtained in respect of the two Libyans accused on 13 November 1991 remain outstanding. We continue to look to the Libyan government to respond positively to the UK initiative of 24 August 1998 by arranging for the delivery of those two accused to the authorities of the Netherlands. Once the accused become available to 213W the Scottish authorities, the arrest warrants can be executed and the criminal proceedings can follow their usual course, subject only to the changes necessarily made to reflect the exceptional location of the proceedings.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.