Explanatory Notes

Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016

2016 asp 20

28 April 2016

Commentary on Sections

Part 1 – Burial

Exhumation

Section 27 – Exhumation of human remains

82.This section gives the Scottish Ministers the power to make regulations relating to the exhumation of human remains. Subsection (2) lists what such regulations may do. In particular, they may set out who may apply for an exhumation; provide for applications for exhumations to be made to inspectors of burial appointed under this Act or other persons specified by regulations; and provide for those people to grant or refuse an application.

83.Subsection (4) provides that the regulations cannot interfere with procedures for exhumation where a crime is being investigated, where criminal proceedings are taking place, where investigation of a death is taking place under the authority of the Lord Advocate or where inquiries are being made under the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Act 2016.