Written question asked by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 November 2009. It was answered by Bridget Prentice (Labour) on Thursday, 12 November 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Coroners: Armed forces

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the arrangements agreed between his Department and the Scottish Executive on the use of fatal accident inquiries into the deaths abroad of service personnel are to be applied retrospectively; and on what date such arrangements will take effect.

Answer: The Coroners and Justice Act, which received Royal Assent today provides for the possibility of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) in Scotland into the deaths of service personnel who die abroad on active service or in training or preparation for it.The arrangements will take effect once the Scottish Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has made the necessary preparations for Fatal Accident Inquiries to be held into overseas deaths of service personnel. The UK Government will work with the COPFS to bring the new provisions into effect as soon as possible. Transitional provisions will be made to ensure that the arrangements can be in place ahead of the complete reform of the coroners' system, by April 2012, on which they are otherwise dependent.It is possible that the provisions could be applied to deaths that have occurred before the provisions are implemented to meet the wishes of a bereaved family. I will write to my right hon. Friend on progress in this area and place a copy in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 499 c834W; 298624
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2010-0117
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Armed forces Coroners
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk