Chamber and committees

The Solicitor General and I were not involved in decisions in this case. Recusal from operational prosecution decision-making by the Law Officers does not prevent them being advised of significant milestones in a case nor does it prevent them from notifying the government of such milestone.

As head of the system of prosecution in Scotland, I have overall responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of crime, including those cases in which they have recused themselves from decision-making. It was appropriate, therefore, to provide confirmation and necessary reassurance to the government that the normal, well-established practice of recusal had been followed.

In my letter to the Presiding Officer of 24 February 2026 I confirmed that there have been two minutes to the First Minister, in March 2025 and January 2026. These were to advise the First Minister that separate procedural milestones had been reached, to confirm that the appropriate processes had been followed in relation to Law Officers not being involved in decision-making, and to remind him that it would not be appropriate to make any public comment on the matter.

In my letter to the Presiding Officer of 24 February 2026 I confirmed that the practice of prosecutors advising the government of significant prosecution decisions, including but not limited to the service of indictments, is a longstanding one and examples of written updates provided to ministers were provided with my letter, based on available records.

In my letter to the Presiding Officer of 24 February 2026 I confirmed that the practice of prosecutors notifying the government of significant prosecution decisions, including but not limited to the service of indictments is a longstanding one and examples of written updates provided to ministers were provided with my letter, based on available records.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44036 on 10 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44036 on 10 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44036 on 10 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Free personal and nursing care is underpinned by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, which places a duty on local authorities to secure the provision of personal and nursing care, without charge, for individuals who are assessed as eligible. Once eligibility has been confirmed, local authorities must put arrangements in place as soon as reasonably practicable. Operational factors such as care planning and provider availability can affect timescales, but financial pressures or resource constraints do not remove or suspend the underlying statutory duty. The entitlement is not discretionary and applies equally to those who are self-funding their accommodation costs in care homes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43803 on 5 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

No such information has been sought.