Seòmar agus comataidhean

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.

Meetings with officials

All groups include housing association representatives, and all discuss health and social care integration in relation to their interests.

Older People’s Housing Strategy Monitoring and Advisory Group (former Wider Planning for an Ageing Population Working Group)

15 June 2012

29 November 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH

Housing Support Forum

25 January 2012

24 May 2012

27 November 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/housingsupport/Page4

Adaptations Working Group (work now concluded)

30 January 2012

16 March 2012

23 April 2012

12 June 2012

12 September 2012

29 October 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH/ADWG

Preventative Support Working Group (work now concluded)

8 February 2012

18 April 2012

26 June 2012

Minutes available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH/PSWG

Housing Association representatives attended consultation events during summer 2012

28 May

4 July

5 July

19 July

Officials provided input for a housing seminar

6 June 2012

Ministerial Meetings

The Deputy First Minister met with the Chief Executives of Bield, Hanover (Scotland) and Trust Housing Associations on 28 March 2012.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet with Chief Executives from Bield, Hanover and Trust Housing Associations on 12 September 2013 to discuss housing’s vital role in supporting the integration of adult health and social care.

The principal legislation which applies to the disposal of ashes at crematoria is the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 1935. Specifically, Regulation 17 sets out the legal requirements when disposing of ashes following a cremation.

As explained in the answer to question S4W-14488 on 8 May 2013, total costs involved in rehousing homeless households are variable and depending on a range of individual and local circumstances. It is not possible for the Scottish Government to produce meaningful estimates of national figures on such costs.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not received any criminal reports regarding the inappropriate disposal of baby ashes in any crematoria.

Yes. All territorial NHS boards require applicants to live or work within the NHS Board Area. Special Health Boards require applicants to live or work within Scotland.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

28 May 2013

Index Heading: Governance and Communities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14486 by Margaret Burgess on 8 May 2013, on how many other occasions the minister has (a) met and (b) written to a UK minister regarding welfare reform and when.

(S4W-14851)

The following corrected answer was issued on 31 May 2013

Margaret Burgess: Scottish Ministers meet with and write to UK Ministers on a regular basis.

The Minister for Housing and Welfare has met with UK Ministers on three occasions to discuss welfare reform. These meetings took place on 19 September 2012,
17 December 2012 and 6 March 2013.

The Minister has also written to UK Ministers on: 13 December 2012; 20 December 2012; 9 January 2013; 10 February 2013; 15 February 2013; 27 February 2013;
26 March 2013; 28 March 2013; 15 April 2013; and 23 May 2013 in relation to welfare reform matters.

The Scottish Government is launching the “Transforming Care after Treatment Programme” soon. The overall aim is to ensure that people diagnosed with cancer are prepared for and supported to live with the consequences of the diagnosis and its treatment.