3.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now discuss with Scottish chief constables the desirability of establishing a regional crime squad, which could be made available to any police force in Scotland on request.
As the hon. Member knows, one such squad operates in the west of Scotland and less formal arrangements for co-operation between forces operate from time to time in other areas. I think that any extension of these arrangements is best left to chief constables to arrange among themselves.
Is the Under-Secretary aware that it is not wise to dither with a necessity of this nature? Does he realise that the criminal mind is adapted to the techniques of the space age at present, whereas we are still influenced by the parish pump outlook in relation to criminal detection? Does he not think that it would be an advantage for Scotland to have its own Scotland Yard so that the cream of Scotland can be available for crime detection?
I think that Scotland Yard in England can move in only at the request of a local force. If local forces in Scotland make such a request they can receive assistance.