Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Thursday, December 12, 2024

Official Report 999KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Under the Parliament’s standing orders, written questions about the operation of the systems of criminal prosecution and investigation of deaths are answerable only by the law officers, as are oral questions on those matters in all but exceptional circumstances.

Last week, I asked a question regarding the provision of forensic pathology services in Aberdeen. I was expecting to hear from the Lord Advocate, as that function falls under her responsibility, but the question was instead dealt with by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. Presiding Officer, were any exceptional circumstances conveyed to you regarding why the Lord Advocate was not able to attend the Parliament on 5 December to fulfil her responsibilities?

I thank Mr Lumsden for his point of order. The rules allow answers to be given by another member of the Government, and it is a matter for the Government to determine whether the circumstances warrant that.

There will be a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the gallery and the chamber to do so.