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Joint inquiry into factory blast | Joint inquiry into factory blast |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A joint public inquiry into the Stockline factory blast in Glasgow is to be set up by the Scottish and UK governments, it has been announced. | A joint public inquiry into the Stockline factory blast in Glasgow is to be set up by the Scottish and UK governments, it has been announced. |
Nine people died in the 2004 explosion and 33 were injured. | Nine people died in the 2004 explosion and 33 were injured. |
Owners and operators ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were fined £400,000 for health and safety breaches. | Owners and operators ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were fined £400,000 for health and safety breaches. |
Scotland's senior law officer, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, said a joint inquiry was the only way to properly address all the issues. | Scotland's senior law officer, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, said a joint inquiry was the only way to properly address all the issues. |
The factory blast, from which seven people were rescued, was caused by liquefied petroleum gas escaping from old and corroded pipe work. | The factory blast, from which seven people were rescued, was caused by liquefied petroleum gas escaping from old and corroded pipe work. |
The announcement of the inquiry came after a meeting between Ms Angiolini and UK Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain. | |
The families have suffered already and we do not want them to have to wait unduly for answers Peter HainWork and pensions secretary | |
The full remit and timescale of the inquiry, the first in mainland Britain under 2005 legislation, will be finalised over the next few weeks. | The full remit and timescale of the inquiry, the first in mainland Britain under 2005 legislation, will be finalised over the next few weeks. |
It is expected to look into the events leading up to the explosion - including the role played by the Health and Safety Executive in its regulation of the premises - and the issues arising out of the incident. | |
Ms Angiolini, who earlier met relatives of the victims, said: "I am conscious of the anxiety that the families of those who died and the survivors have continued to suffer and both the secretary of state and I wish to ensure that the inquiry takes place as quickly as possible, and should not be unduly lengthy." | Ms Angiolini, who earlier met relatives of the victims, said: "I am conscious of the anxiety that the families of those who died and the survivors have continued to suffer and both the secretary of state and I wish to ensure that the inquiry takes place as quickly as possible, and should not be unduly lengthy." |
Dignified campaign | |
Mr Hain said he was "convinced", having met the families, that a full public inquiry was needed to understand what led to "this tragic accident". | |
"The families have suffered already and we do not want them to have to wait unduly for answers." | |
A memorial garden has been created for those who died | |
A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said ministers were pleased at the announcement. | |
The decision was also welcomed by Patricia Ferguson and Ann McKechin, MSP and MP respectively for the area where the blast took place. | |
In a statement, they said: "This rewards the determined but dignified campaign conducted by the families over the last three years. | |
"We must make sure that we do everything possible to ensure never again will anyone lose their life because they went to work." | |
ICL said: "The companies welcome the inquiry and hope it will properly establish all the facts and circumstances relating to the disaster." | |
Scottish TUC general secretary Grahame Smith also welcomed the inquiry. | |
"We have worked closely with the families during this time and we are delighted that their determination to search for the truth has delivered the inquiry they wanted," he said. | |
"Hopefully, it will provide the answers to the questions that the families have been seeking as to how their loved ones died." |