Hansard

The Convener SNP

The second item is consideration of two affirmative instruments. The instruments will enable hydrolysis to be available as an option for the disposal of huma...

The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health (Jenni Minto) SNP

I am pleased to join the committee to discuss two sets of regulations on hydrolysis, which are being made under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016....

The Convener SNP

Thank you, minister. A number of members have questions. We will begin with Brian Whittle.

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Good morning, minister. My questions are about the use of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, which are incredibly corrosive materials. That is obvious...

Jenni Minto SNP

That is an important question. We must be absolutely clear that the process is safe. Once hydrolysis has taken place, the liquid is removed, cooled and treat...

Brian Whittle Con

I had not thought about that, so thank you for mentioning it. My main concern is about the fluid itself, because, as I said, sodium hydroxide and potassium h...

Jenni Minto SNP

Those liquids are stored within the facilities alongside acids that can be used to neutralise them.

Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I declare an interest as a practising general practitioner in the national health service. I have received an email from a constituent called Chris, who rai...

Jenni Minto SNP

As I said to Mr Whittle, there is a sterilisation process once the water cremation or hydrolysis has taken place. The remaining liquid that is then released ...

Sandesh Gulhane Con

Is it clear that prions would be destroyed in that scenario?

Jenni Minto SNP

The evidence that I have is that they would be.

Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) Green

Happy new year, minister. What is the Scottish Government’s estimate of the level of uptake of hydrolysis, and what on-going monitoring will SEPA do of the p...

Jenni Minto SNP

Happy new year to you, too, Ms Mackay. Your question about uptake is a really good and interesting one. The conversations that I have had have ranged from so...

Gillian Mackay Green

On the issue of on-going monitoring, if the uptake is very high, there will be quite a lot of proteins, sugars and salt going into the watercourse. How will ...

Jenni Minto SNP

These regulations have not required an environmental impact assessment. It would be for Scottish Water, local authorities and SEPA to determine how regularly...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Good morning, minister. I was reading about alkaline hydrolysis over the weekend, and a number of countries, such as America and Canada, are already using th...

Jenni Minto SNP

As I indicated to Gillian Mackay, based on conversations that I have had through the cross-party group, there is a lot of positivity around it from an indust...

The Convener SNP

The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors in Scotland—SAIF—raised a couple of issues in its submission to the committee. One question ...

Jenni Minto SNP

In Scotland, we require a certificate of death, as is the case in the other United Kingdom nations. We have been in conversation with the UK nations and the ...

The Convener SNP

Thank you for that clarification. The other issue that SAIF raised is the description of hydrolysis products as “powder” in the event of sending remains abr...

Jenni Minto SNP

Again, that is a very fair question. The evidence that countries outwith Scotland require on what is taken from Scotland into another country, whether that i...

The Convener SNP

I understand that it is for other countries to decide what they allow to come across their borders, but I suppose that my question is about the consideration...

Jenni Minto SNP

I will bring in Katrina McNeill. It is quite interesting that exactly that issue was part of our conversation prior to coming to the committee. We were sayin...

Katrina McNeill (Scottish Government)

That point was not raised with us as a concern. I would add that the process has become more widely available in other countries and the issue did not come u...

Jenni Minto SNP

As Katrina says, it is something that we will engage on. We have talked about the importance of guidelines, and the issue might be incorporated into those.

The Convener SNP

It is helpful for the committee to know that that is on your radar.

Jenni Minto SNP

It is on our radar.

The Convener SNP

Given the circumstances in which someone would be taking the remains of a friend or relative overseas, you would want that to be done as sensitively as possi...

Jenni Minto SNP

Thank you, convener and committee members, for your consideration of the regulations. The regulations will enable hydrolysis to become available as an additi...

The Convener SNP

Sandesh Gulhane wishes to speak.