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Baby ashes public inquiry not ruled out, says Salmond | Baby ashes public inquiry not ruled out, says Salmond |
(about 2 hours later) | |
First Minister Alex Salmond has said he would not rule out a public inquiry into the disposal of baby ashes. | First Minister Alex Salmond has said he would not rule out a public inquiry into the disposal of baby ashes. |
He made the comment in response to a question from Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson at First Minister's Questions. | He made the comment in response to a question from Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson at First Minister's Questions. |
She spoke about meeting bereaved parents whose babies' bodies were disposed of without their knowledge. | She spoke about meeting bereaved parents whose babies' bodies were disposed of without their knowledge. |
Mr Salmond, who said his mother had had a stillbirth, told Ms Davidson that if two current investigations failed he would consider a fuller inquiry. | Mr Salmond, who said his mother had had a stillbirth, told Ms Davidson that if two current investigations failed he would consider a fuller inquiry. |
Former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini is examining the practices behind the disposal of baby ashes at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh. | Former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini is examining the practices behind the disposal of baby ashes at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh. |
That came about after it emerged bereaved parents had been denied access to the ashes, which were buried in a garden of remembrance. | That came about after it emerged bereaved parents had been denied access to the ashes, which were buried in a garden of remembrance. |
It is thought the practice was carried out from the 1960s until 2011. | It is thought the practice was carried out from the 1960s until 2011. |
Dame Angiolini will look at individual cases and her findings will be reported to Edinburgh City Council's transport and environment committee. | Dame Angiolini will look at individual cases and her findings will be reported to Edinburgh City Council's transport and environment committee. |
The second inquiry, being conducted by Lord Bonomy, will review the Scotland-wide policies, guidance and practice in relation to the handling of ashes following the cremation of babies and infants. | The second inquiry, being conducted by Lord Bonomy, will review the Scotland-wide policies, guidance and practice in relation to the handling of ashes following the cremation of babies and infants. |
The former High Court judge's Infant Cremation Commission will also make recommendations for improvement to ensure that parents' wishes are adhered to. | The former High Court judge's Infant Cremation Commission will also make recommendations for improvement to ensure that parents' wishes are adhered to. |
However, although Lord Bonomy wants to hear from bereaved parents, local councils and cremation staff, he will not examine individual cases. | However, although Lord Bonomy wants to hear from bereaved parents, local councils and cremation staff, he will not examine individual cases. |
In parliament on Wednesday, a group of bereaved parents affected by the ashes scandal, made a plea for a public inquiry to a cross-party gathering of MSPs. | |
During First Minister's Questions, Ms Davidson said: "What started out as a scandal in a single crematorium in Mortonhall in Edinburgh has spread to crematoria in Glasgow and Aberdeen, and they are the ones that we know about. | |
"But we have now learned that families who used a facility in Falkirk have been affected as have families using a private, not local authority, crematorium." | |
She asked: "Does the first minister recognise that neither the Angiolini investigation nor Lord Bonomy's review will give the answers that parents in parliament yesterday need." | |
In a personal response to the Scottish Tory leader, Mr Salmond said: "Let's just accept that everyone in this parliament has great sympathy and empathy for the parents in these circumstances. | |
"My mother, and it is common with many families who have experience of this, had a stillborn child. | |
"If you add to that the extremity of not knowing about the disposal of a child's ashes then every person, every human person, understands how parents feel in that circumstance, or at least has the empathy to try and understand how that parent feels." | |
He added that what was crucial was how best to proceed in producing the best policy for the future. | |
Mr Salmond said that Lord Bonomy had indicated that he was confident he could make proper recommendations by the end of the year with the possibility of legislation in early 2014. | |
The first minister then cautioned: "If it wasn't the case and it couldn't happen, I would not hesitate to take other measures including the consideration of a public inquiry." |