Scottish Affairs Committee
4 November 2026
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Scottish Affairs Committee Actual start House of Commons
Follow its sittings23:57 - 25:19
Speaker 1
Morning and welcome to this meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee.
Today, we'll be taking oral evidence for the first time as part of our inquiry into the dual role of Scotland's Lord Advocate. Before we begin, I'd like to briefly set out the Committee's approach to this inquiry. The Committee has a very narrow terms of reference, and we'll focus specifically on appraising the case for and against splitting the dual role and exploring different options for reform. The inquiry, therefore, will not touch on many of the wider issues associated with the recent work of the Lord Advocate and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. In particular, we will not discuss individual charging decisions.
These are properly a matter for the Crown Office to undertake independently. There are also a number of ongoing legal matters, which are off-limits and, in some cases, maybe sub judice.
I'll maintain order in line with the Committee's agreed terms of reference this morning and in any future sessions considering this matter. And I will also put on record, not just for the benefit of today's witnesses, but also for future witnesses and members of the public following our work, that is the case. So, could I now, having got the formalities out of the way, welcome our witnesses and ask them to introduce themselves and their role? Start with you, Dr Tickell.
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