Question reference: S5W-21308
- Asked by: Angela Constance, MSP for Almond Valley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 30 January 2019
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 February 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is provided by (a) it and (b) its agencies to the families of resident Scots who have died abroad in suspicious circumstances in (i) accessing and liaising with oversea justice agencies and (ii) meeting the costs of repatriation, translation services, legal services and travel, and what scope there is within the existing funding streams to extend this support.
Answer
The Scottish Government would ordinarily refer individuals to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who offer support to British nationals in difficulty abroad and to their families (either in the UK or elsewhere) to help them deal with the immediate effects of what has happened . Following repatriation of the deceased, several organisations within Scotland can provide support for the bereaved families, in addition to the work of community support and Police groups. This includes ‘Victim Support Scotland’ who are able to provide support to families in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. However, I do not believe that the current system is wholly satisfactory, and await with interest the report from the All-party UK Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad and Consular Services and Assistance. I am keen to explore this issue further.