FAI law could be extended for forces
15 May 07
Government hints of extending jurisdiction to cover deaths abroad
Fatal accident inquiries could be held into deaths of Scottish service personnel which occur abroad, the Armed Forces Minister has hinted.
At present the 1976 Act which governs inquiries is limited to deaths occurring in Scotland. However in the House of Commons yesterday the minister, Adam Ingram, replying to the SNP's Angus Robertson, said that if there was a will in Scotland to change the law, he would work to help bring this about.
At present the deaths of Scottish troops, such as those killed in the Nimrod crash in Afghanistan last year, have to be investigated through an English inquest.
Amending the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act is within the compentence of the Holyrood parliament.