RAF base plan 'not on the table'

Dead Scottish soldiers are currently repatriated at RAF Brize Norton

The Scottish Government has ruled out allowing coroner's inquests into dead military personnel to take place at bases in Scotland.

Sources told BBC Scotland that the move was being considered to speed up inquests into Scottish personnel who die abroad.

The proposal would have seen English law given jurisdiction over part of a Scottish military base.

But the Scottish Government said the plan had been discounted.

The Ministry of Defence had earlier insisted the option was "not even on the table."

Adam Ingram, the former armed forces minister, wrote to the Scottish Government in the summer requesting talks to consider all the options. So far, the MoD claims it has had no response.

There are no plans to redesignate parts of any Scottish base as part of England and Wales for this purpose Scottish Government spokesman

Defence ministers were also said to be baffled as to why they were never informed that one of the options being considered was the idea of having inquests held at a Scottish base like RAF Kinloss.

One insider said: "This sort of idea has never been discussed. When we heard about it we just thought 'are you kidding'.

"We don't even know if Kinloss could cope with bodies being returned. It's a huge pressure and is a big deal even for RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to cope with.

"Equally, would it be any better for relatives to have to travel to Kinloss from all over Scotland than having to travel to England?"

The Scottish Government said there were no plans to redesignate part of a Scottish military base as part of England to allow coroner's inquests, but said it was "continuing to explore" how inquests could be sped up.

'Additional distress'

A spokesman said: "There is currently no legislative basis for coroners' inquests to be held in Scotland and so, contrary to reports, there are no plans to redesignate parts of any Scottish base as part of England and Wales for this purpose.

"We are continuing to explore with the UK Government how the investigations and inquiries into the deaths of Scottish-based service personnel can be dealt with in a way which minimises the additional distress for bereaved families in having to travel south of the border for inquest hearings.

"This is a complex matter that will take time to work through and may require changes in the law, possibly on both sides of the border."

At present, all military deaths abroad must currently be examined by an English coroner. Under Scots law, fatal accident inquiries cannot be held into anyone who dies abroad.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice at Westminster said: "Reports that a Scottish military base might be used under English law for coroners' inquest hearings are completely unfounded.

"In the specific case of the deaths of Scottish-based personnel, the government is exploring how the investigations and inquiries into the deaths can be dealt with in a way that minimises the additional distress for bereaved families in having to travel south of the border for inquest hearings."