Records of Law Officers communications with First Minister since 2016: FOI release

Information requested

In light of recent news re the Murrell case, please could you advise :

- A list of cases in the past 10 years where the Lord Advocate has sent a similar notice to the First Minister at a similar stage in criminal proceedings including date(s) of that advice.

- A list of cases in the past 10 years where the Lord Advocate, or another person has sent a similar notice to the First Minister, or another member of the Scottish Government, at a similar stage in criminal proceedings including date(s) of that advice.

- If, for the above 2 requests, you are unable to provide a list of cases for legal reasons, then the number of cases each year in the above 2 categories.

Response

I enclose below the information you requested. This is a list of minutes provided to the First Minister from both Law Officers.

• Operation Amphitoky – 13 February 2026
• Operation Lazer – 5 February 2026
• Operation Branchform – 20 March 2025 and 19 January 2026
• Aberdeen Sheriff Court case – 18 July 2025
• Operation Cordgrass - 24 July 2025
• Operation Biforous – 17 July 2025
• Lockerbie case - 20 August 2024
• Investigation of the deaths of William Lindsay and Katie Allan - 17 June 2022
• Investigation into the death of a Sudanese national – 28 June 2020
• Petition to the Nobile Officium - 12 March 2020
• Investigation of the Royal Bank of Scotland - 12 May 2016

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