AN MP has demanded answers over the involvement of a leading QC in the E-coli inquiry.
Mr Frank Roy, MP for Motherwell and Wishaw, says he has ''grave concerns'' that former Solicitor General Paul Cullen QC, may have had access to Government papers written at the height of the epidemic.
Mr Cullen represents Scotmid at the inquiry in Motherwell. It is known Scotmid has a #1m lawsuit against butcher's John M Barr & Son.
Mr Roy has written to the Lord Advocate setting out his concerns and speaking of his determination to ensure all aspects of the inquiry are open to ''public scrutiny''. He says key questions over involvement or knowledge Mr Cullen had at the time of the outbreak must be answered.
They include questions over access Mr Cullen may have had to information from the Crown Office or the Scottish Office, any discussions Mr Cullen held at the time with the Lord Advocate or Crown Office officials, knowledge Mr Cullen may have had access to about steps taken by the Scottish Office, and whether he saw any documents from Government departments.
Mr Roy's letter states: ''I write to you due to the grave concerns I have in relation to the involvement of Mr Paul Cullen QC, the former Solicitor General, who is now acting for representatives of Scotmid. I find it hard to understand that a Law Officer who was in office at the time of the E-coli outbreak should be involved in the inquiry for anyone other than the Crown.
''I am sure you will understand my determination to ensure that all aspects of the E-coli outbreak are fully open to public scrutiny and that I genuinely believe that the above questions need answered.''
During the outbreak in December 1996 Mr Cullen rejected calls from the then Shadow Scottish Secretary George Robertson for a full public inquiry. He wrote to Mr Robertson and said he had confidence in the procedures set out within the scope of a fatal accident inquiry to gain answers over the outbreak.
The letter stated: ''... the fatal accident inquiry procedure has been widely used in Scotland for over 100 years. Fatal accident inquiries have taken place after a wide variety of disasters, large and small. Lockerbie, the two Chinook helicopter crashes and the Ibrox disaster are well known large scale examples.''
In opposition Labour MPs including Mr Robertson, Dr John Reid and the former MP for Mr Roy's seat, Dr Jeremy Bray, all called for a full public inquiry into the deaths.
After gaining office, Labour said it would not order a full inquiry and said it had faith in an FAI.
Last night Mr Roy said: ''I feel that a fatal accident inquiry can establish the facts. But I am concerned at a possible conflict of interests here.
''Mr Cullen was in a position where he may have had information relating to the handling of the outbreak. Now he is earning money acting for one of the organisations involved.
''I was very very surprised to see him there on the opening day. After much thought I have decided that these question marks are too important not to be addressed.''
A Crown Office spokesman said: ''The Lord Advocate will respond to Mr Roy's letter in due course.''
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