A consultation began today as part of a Scottish Government-commissioned review of the existing laws on fatal accident inquiries (FAIs).

This system of public inquiries is used whenever a death raises public concerns or happens in the workplace, or in police custody. The Government reports that between 35 and 80 inquiries have been held each year since devolution.

This is set against roughly 14,000 reported deaths each year. At present FAIs are governed by legislation from 1976. The consultation will assess each stage of an inquiry – from its establishment, through investigation and reporting – to examine where improvements can be made.

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"The purpose of publishing this consultation paper is in order to inform interested parties of the principal issues to be considered by the review and to take their views on such issues," Lord Cullen, the head of the review, said.

"From representations that we have received so far, it is apparent that there is a desire for reform in some areas of the fatal accident inquiry system. However, I have not reached any conclusion on the questions that have been posed."

Submissions to the consultation will be accepted until February 20 2009, with the possibility of issue-specific consultations being launched thereafter.

Guidance from the review on any possible legislative changes is expected late in 2009.

(GK)