To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet representatives of rape crisis centres to discuss the conduct of rape and sexual assault cases in the courts.

The conduct of rape trials is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and his deputes, who undertake such prosecutions. They and procurators fiscal undertake prosecutions for sexual assault. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is aware of the general views held by rape crisis centres and does not believe that a meeting would serve any particular purpose. If, however, representatives of rape crisis centres care to raise specific points of concern by writing to him, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate will be happy to consider them.