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Scots Army death inquiries move 'must speed up'

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Published Date: 02 January 2009
Liberal Democrats today hit out at the "disgraceful" slow progress of moves to enable fatal accident inquiries to be held into overseas deaths of Scots servicemen.
They urged both the Scottish and Westminster governments to move faster and to work together.

The call came from Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael in letters to Defence Secretary John Hutton and Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.
"Scottish
forces families should not have to face the additional strain and inconvenience of travelling to England to attend an inquest unless that is absolutely necessary," said Mr Carmichael.

"There really is no good reason why with some effort and goodwill this problem could not be solved."

He went on: "We are told that the Scottish justice minister has written to the UK Defence Secretary saying that this can be done by the Scottish Parliament.

"If this is so, why isn't he bringing forward legislation now? And why isn't John Hutton publicly supporting his proposals?

"The families of our service men and women deserve better than this."
In March last year the then Defence Secretary, Des Browne, said it was for Holyrood and not Westminster to change the law to allow deaths of military personnel killed abroad to be investigated in Scotland.

The legislation covering Scotland's system of fatal accident inquiries is currently being reviewed by senior judge Lord Cullen.

Kenny MacAskill wrote to John Hutton in November confirming the Scottish Government's agreement to a new category of mandatory inquiry for overseas military deaths.

The Ministry of Defence has said there must be "guarantees" that every military death on overseas operations will have a fatal accident inquiry, as this is a commitment given to personnel and their families.
But in his letter today to the two ministers, Mr Carmichael said: "It seems inexplicable to many families that everyone agrees that this would be a desirable change but nobody ever makes it happen.

"While our troops may be set to return from Iraq, they continue to serve bravely in Afghanistan and doubtless will be called upon to do so again at some future date in some other part of the world.

"The need for this change does not go away simply because our troops return from Iraq."



The full article contains 377 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 02 January 2009 12:47 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Coileach an taobh Tuath,

02/01/2009 13:58:14
"There really is no good reason why with some effort and goodwill this problem could not be solved."

Unfortunately, as it has been shown on countless occasions, Labour possess neither of these qualities.

Brown, Kicking Britain's Teeth
2

Thistledhu,

02/01/2009 14:41:35
We have the tragedy of a soldiers death compounded by bureaucracy this needs sorted now.

There is not and should not be any political axe to grind over this, it is simply the right thing to do.
3

­­,

name and address supplied 02/01/2009 15:10:24
While the Hard currency value of a Soldiers life and limbs, is set considerably lower than;

The price put on the emotional anguish endured by his valiant Gay Lesbian and Trans-gender colleagues, pinned down by merciless snigger's, funny looks and innuendo back in the rear echelons.

There is no justice in the military...swift or otherwise.
4

Warden An' All, Reborn,

02/01/2009 15:13:44
1-Coileach an taobh Tuath-What kind of idiot doesn’t read the article before mouthing off. Try this for size:
“In March last year the then Defence Secretary, Des Browne, said it was for Holyrood and not Westminster to change the law to allow deaths of military personnel killed abroad to be investigated in Scotland.”

Yes Coileach an taobh Tuath it is down to the Scottish administration to sort out this mess, not Westminster.

Get a grip.
5

Observer,,

Glasgow 02/01/2009 19:09:08
They are not going to give the Scottish Parliament power over investigating the deaths of Scottish soldiers, end of. It is not in the establishment's pockets and Lord knows where any meaningful enquiry could lead. Watch this space.
6

Thistledhu,

02/01/2009 19:47:56
#3what on earth are you on about?
7

qohldr,

02/01/2009 22:33:42
There is nothing in Scottish law that allows inquiries into the death of Scots outside Scotland.
Scottish law dictates enquiries into deaths that occur in Scotland only.
MacAskill held meetings with reps from Westminster in 2007.
He was informed that it is up to the Scottish government to change Scottish law to allow enquiries into the death of UK military personnel from Scotland to be held in Scotland in March 2008.
Neither Westminster the British government or Hutton are stopping them from doing so, Yet! the Scottish government has not brought forward any legislation to change the law, I wonder why?
Maybe they do not actually care considering these men and women voluntarily enlisted in the British armed forces to serve Queen and Country.
They cannot after all be true Scots as no true Scot would willingly join the armed forces of the UK swearing allegiance to the English Queen and serve with pride under the butchers apron, only traitors to Scotland would commit such an act so why would the Scottish SNP government bother holding enquiries into the deaths of such quislings.
8

Tris,

02/01/2009 23:27:52
#8... you ARE kidding aren't you.... even if you are it is NOT funny.
9

Warden An' All, Reborn,

02/01/2009 23:54:09
5-Ken_Fitlike-Des Browne was in the position to know that holyrood could change the law to enforce such a change so deaths of military personnel killed abroad could be investigated in scotland. He was in the unique position of holding both the positions of Scottish secretary and that of defence secretary. Most people would have regarded these positions as being ample when advising on such matters.
10

Warden An' All, Reborn,

03/01/2009 00:10:59
6-Observer,-It has already been said holyrood could have the law changed to facilitate the investigations.
That holyrood hasn’t instigated proceedings speaks volumes.
Say holyrood changes the law, and subsequently are banned by westminster from investigating the soldiers deaths, the bad publicity generated would be very damaging for the british government.
It is odd then that the snp led administration in scotland hasn’t been pushing harder for this Scottish law change.
11

Tris,

03/01/2009 00:19:55
#11... one and a half years of SNP government.....6 years of wars.....?

Labour didn't do anything either..... despite their War Secretary also being the Scotland Secretary.

Anyway, the Liberals are right. Get it fixed now. And I don't mean "fixed" as in like Des wanted in Oxford!

 

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