Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when it received a proposal from the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) regarding the MWC undertaking reviews of all individuals who have committed homicide and who may have had mental health issues, pursuant to the undertaking given by the then Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health during the Stage 3 debate on the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015, and (b) when a decision on that proposal is expected.
The Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) submitted a final report to the Scottish Government with proposals for the Investigation of Mental Health Homicides in 2022, following a consultation published in 2017. The Scottish Government provided funding for the MWC to pilot their proposed approach in 2023-24, alongside their proposals regarding investigating the deaths of people subject to detention under the Mental Health Act. The Scottish Government is currently working with the MWC to revisit and develop these proposals, informed by the lessons learned from the pilot work.