This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7949891.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Soldier inquest plans published | Soldier inquest plans published |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Proposals that would allow fatal accident inquiries into dead military personnel to take place in Scotland have been published by UK ministers. | Proposals that would allow fatal accident inquiries into dead military personnel to take place in Scotland have been published by UK ministers. |
| At present only a coroner in England can hold an inquest into such deaths. | At present only a coroner in England can hold an inquest into such deaths. |
| This has resulted in lengthy waits and long journeys for the relatives of Scottish soldiers. | This has resulted in lengthy waits and long journeys for the relatives of Scottish soldiers. |
| Amendments will now be inserted into the Coroners Bill going through the UK parliament, and Holyrood will also change the fatal accident inquiry laws. | Amendments will now be inserted into the Coroners Bill going through the UK parliament, and Holyrood will also change the fatal accident inquiry laws. |
| It is hoped the legal process will be completed by the end of the year. | It is hoped the legal process will be completed by the end of the year. |
| Currently, Fatal Accident Inquiries FAI in Scotland do not allow them to be held in relation to deaths outside Scotland. | |
| The new laws would allow Scottish families of service personnel who die abroad to attend hearings as close to home as possible. | The new laws would allow Scottish families of service personnel who die abroad to attend hearings as close to home as possible. |
| SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP, whose constituency includes RAF Kinloss in Moray, said he was "delighted" that talks between the Scottish and UK governments had secured a way forward. | |
| It was crazy that service families in Scotland have had to travel so far and at great cost to inquiries in the south of England Angus Robertson MP | |
| He added: "This issue has always been about family members who deserve the best support and assistance after the deaths of a loved one. It was crazy that service families in Scotland have had to travel so far and at great cost to inquiries in the south of England. | |
| "Our aim was always to minimise the distress caused to bereaved families of service personnel killed overseas in service. | |
| "These amendments to the coroners system will make real difference for service families in Scotland." | |
| Mr Robertson had campaigned for the change since 14 personnel were killed when an RAF Nimrod, which had been based at RAF Kinloss, crashed in Afghanistan in 2006. | |
| Although ten of the fourteen service personnel killed aboard the aircraft were based in RAF Kinloss in Moray, which Mr Robertson represents, the inquest into the fatal crash took place in Oxfordshire. |