FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRIES

HC Deb 23 February 1977 vol 926 c1408

42. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Lord Advocate when he hopes to publish the rules for fatal accident inquiries.

The Lord Advocate

The Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry Procedure (Scotland) Rules 1977 (SI 1977/191) were published on 16th February 1977. They will come into operation on 1st March 1977.

Mr. Buchanan

Will my right hon. and learned Friend explain the benefits that will flow from the new procedure?

The Lord Advocate

The rules should provide a new, detailed code of procedure that ought to be helpful to all those involved in fatal accident inquiries. They will come into force on the same day as the Act. The Act and the rules have the merit of removing doubts about the lawfulness of fatal accident inquiries being held into accidental deaths during oil operations on the part of the Continental Shelf that conies under Scots law. They will apply to deaths that have taken place before the operation of the Act and to deaths in legal custody. These are great advantages.