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Holyrood 'will prevent another baby ashes scandal,' Alex Salmond vows

Holyrood will pass whatever laws are needed to prevent another baby ashes scandal, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond has said.

Mr Salmond offered his condolences and a promise of action yesterday as he addressed reports that hundreds of Edinburgh children’s remains were dumped in a “mass grave” unbeknown to their grieving families.

The Dame Elish report, released earlier this week, confirmed details of the scandal in which staff at the city’s Mortonhall Crematorium routinely buried or scattered the ashes of stillborn and newborn babies, despite telling families that there was nothing left to scatter.

A second commission led by former High Court judge Lord Bonomy is investigating the handling of infants’ remains across Scotland.

"No one should have to experience this pain and we are determined that no one shall ever again,” said Mr Salmond, pledging new legislation on burials and cremation.

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