Chamber and committees

I am due to meet with Earl Howe on 3 July 2013.

Latest published data available from the General Register Office for Scotland indicate that there has been a slight reduction in the number of deaths by self poisoning in Scotland in recent years. There is no information available centrally on whether there is a correlation between the price and availability of painkillers and the number of deliberate self poisonings.

Medicine safety is currently a reserved matter with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency having responsibility across the UK. Given the particular risks associated with paracetamol, UK wide legislation was amended in 1998 to introduce pack size restrictions to a maximum of 32 tablets through pharmacy sales and 16 for non-pharmacy sales. A recent British Medical Journal article concluded that the introduction of the legislation resulted in a 43% reduction in deaths in England and Wales.

This information is not available at national level.

At the January 2013 Delayed Discharge census the number of adults aged 18-65 recorded as delayed discharges was 110, comprising of 58 standard and 52 code nine delays.

Code 9 delays are patients who are delayed due to circumstances out with the control of either the Health Board or local authority, for example Adults with Incapacity who require a Guardian to be appointed. These delays are recorded separately within the census.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

30 May 2013

Index Heading: Health and Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is of the commission to examine the policies and practices in place for handling ashes and cremated remains.

(S4W-14859)

Michael Matheson: As the main costs will relate to the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by Commission members, it is not possible to provide a more definite projected cost at this time.

Our expectation is that the costs incurred will not exceed £100k. These costs will be met by Scottish Government.

The investigation of specific incidents or allegations relating to any particular cremation or crematorium remains the responsibility of the relevant cremation authority or, if applicable, the police or Procurator Fiscal service.

The Commission has now issued a public call for written submissions from any interested parties. The Commission understands that individuals responding to this call for submissions may wish to set out their own personal experiences in order to provide context to their comments.

It is not expected that the Commission will need to compel witnesses to give evidence. All key stakeholder organisations involved in the management of crematoria and the handling of cremations are represented on the Commission and have accepted the remit.

The Commission has been asked to report to Scottish Government by the end of 2013. Responsibility for implementing its recommendations will depend on the detail of each recommendation.

Recommendations around professional guidance or practice may be for Scottish Government, Cremation Authorities or for professional bodies.

Recommendations about legislation, however, will be for the Scottish Government to take forward in the first instance.

It is important we learn lessons quickly to ensure no bereaved parent or relative ever again goes through the additional distress caused by this type of experience.

A full public inquiry would be likely to take several years to complete its work, which would delay indefinitely current plans to update existing burial and cremation legislation and might also possibly delay the implementation of any new guidance.

The Infant Cremation Commission, by contrast, will report its recommendations by the end of this year, ensuring that the lessons learned can inform the development of any new guidance as soon as is possible, as well as influence the upcoming legislation development.

The Commission’s remit includes considering existing legislation, with particular reference to the Cremation Act 1902 and the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 1935, in order to identify gaps, inconsistencies and weaknesses and to make recommendations on what issues should be addressed in future legislation.

The Government has already committed to updating existing burial and cremation legislation. That work is due to commence next year and will be informed by the Commission’s findings.