Written Question · S2W-23599 · Session 2
What guidelines exist for guaranteeing the independence of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General from political interference in their…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines exist for guaranteeing the independence of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General from political interference in their judicial decisions and whether these will be published.
The answer
The independence of the Lord Advocate is enshrined in section 48 of the Scotland Act 1998. This independence is fundamental to the role of the Lord Advocate as head of the system of criminal prosecution in the public interest. It is a cornerstone of any democracy that those who make prosecution decisions do so independently of any other person and, as the Lord Advocate’s deputy, the Solicitor General for Scotland requires to exercise the same independence.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-23599 by reference.