Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 19 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the First Minister's responses during First Minister's Questions on 19 February 2026 in relation to the briefing that he had received from the Lord Advocate about Operation Branchform, for what reason he failed to mention that he had also been briefed by the Lord Advocate on the same case in March 2025.
It would not have been appropriate for the First Minister to give details of any briefings without understanding the impact on proceedings should information be released. The Lord Advocate has now provided members with a wide range of examples to demonstrate the long-standing practice of prosecutors properly advising the Government of the day, of significant prosecutorial decisions taken by an independent prosecutor.