Overseas deaths legislation promised

A SCOTTISH Parliament committee could make a rare bid to draft its own legislation to seek justice for Scots who die abroad.

Members of Holyrood’s justice committee accused justice secretary Kenny MacAskill of “lamentable” inaction and “evasiveness” over a petition to amend the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976.

The petitioners want a fatal accident inquiry held when a person from Scotland dies abroad, to bring the rights of families in line with those in England.

In a letter to the committee, Mr MacAskill said a full legi- slative programme prevented the Scottish Government from introducing legislation this year.

He added: “Pressure on the legislative programme is not likely to lessen in the future years of this parliament.

“We do, however, intend to bring forward legislation on fatal accident inquiries when an opportunity arises in the legislative programme.”

A committee bill cannot be introduced if the Scottish or UK government have indicated that they are planning to introduce equivalent legislation.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “This government intends to bring forward legislation on fatal accident inquiries when an opportunity arises in the legislative programme within the lifetime of this parliament.”