Problem with dependency declaration

[frank@kuesterei.ch (Frank Küster)]

Hi all,

in a package that I maintain (sponsored by a DD), I use a call to
stat. In sarge, /usr/bin/stat is in coreutils - of course I don't need a
dependency on that. However, in woody stat was in a separate
package. Usually packages keep really old versioned dependencies - this
might be important for upgrades, and it's friendly for backporters.

If coreutils wouldn't be of priority required, I would just add
"coreutils | stat" to the dependencies. What should I do in this case?
Stat was in coreutils from the first time it appeared in Debian, so a
versioned Depends: wouldn't make any sense (except that it makes lintian
and linda be quiet...)

Thank you,
Frank
-- 
Frank Küster, Biozentrum der Univ. Basel
Abt. Biophysikalische Chemie