Current status: Answered by Dorothy Bain on 26 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether the Lord Advocate plans to name the Advocate Depute who has lead responsibility in relation to consideration of possible proceedings resulting from Operation Branchform; if it has this information, whether it will provide the name of the Advocate Depute, and, if not, for what reason it is not able to provide this information.
As head of the system for the prosecution of crime as Lord Advocate, I remain accountable and responsible for every case, regardless of not being personally involved.
Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law in accordance with the principles set out in the Prosecution Code.
It is standard procedure that the identity of prosecutors considering individual cases is not publicly known until a case progresses to court.