Dear applicant

Thank you for your enquiry on Inquests received on 27th February 2019,
which we are dealing with under our own country's legislation: the Freedom
of Information (Scotland) Act, 2002. I apologise for the delay in
responding, which is due to the large number of requests received by the
University. Please see our responses in red below.

I'm interested to know the amount the University has spent on external
legal support for inquests into the deaths of students or staff where it
is a party to proceedings. Nil

How much in pounds sterling has the University spent on external legal
support since 2014, by year, up until the latest date for which data is
available? Please see attached table.

How much of this amount has been spent on work relating to coroner-led
inquests? Nil

For clarity, legal support could include, for example, the hiring of a
barrister, solicitor, paralegal or legal assistant who is not ordinarily
employed by the University.

As you should be aware, Scotland has its own legal system, and does not
therefore hold Inquests per se, but is governed by the [1]Fatal Accident
and Sudden Deaths Act 2016. Where an FAI takes place this is under the
aegis of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal’s Service as Scotland does
not have Coroners. Evidence is presented by the procurator fiscal in the
public interest, and other parties may be represented. Parties can choose
representation by [2]Advocate (=Barrister) or solicitor, or may appear in
person.

Your right to seek review of our decision

If you are not satisfied with our response or our reasoning set-out above,
you have forty working days from today in which to request a review of our
decision. Any request should be put in writing and should be sent to Ann
Jones, Head of Heritage and Information Governance, at the address
detailed at the bottom of this email. The request should:

(a) detail your request for a review of our decision to be undertaken;

(b) describe the nature of your original request; and

(c) explain the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our response.

If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been
dealt with, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information
Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request
properly.

Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the
Scottish Information Commissioner's web page at:

[3]http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourR...

or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner's Office at the
following address:

Scottish Information Commissioner,

Kinburn Castle,

Doubledykes Road,

St Andrews,

Fife KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

E-mail: [4][email address]

Website:
[5]http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/home/...

Contact us

Finally, should you wish to discuss the contents of this email, please do
not hesitate to contact me.

Brian D A Kelvin

Records Manager

Information Governance

Heriot-Watt University

Riccarton Campus

Edinburgh EH14 4AS

[6]https://www.hw.ac.uk/documents/HW-YoH-si...

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