IMPROVED Fatal Accident Inquiries, with more information for bereaved families and better lessons from tragedies, will take a step forward today with the publication of a consultation on a Holyrood Member's Bill.

Glasgow Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson announced last year that she would be launching legislation on the issue with her Inquiries into Deaths Bill allowing more thorough investigation of deaths and better lessons to be learned.

Ms Ferguson's Bill aims to restore the bereaved to the heart of the process, and she has the support of legal firm Thompsons and the Scottish TUC for her efforts to make the process more humane and more timely.

The Bill is in response to a series of tragedies, from industrial cases such as the Stockline explosion to medical tragedies where errors led to death. It is understood that victims of some of the tragedies involved will be present at today's launch of the consultation process.

This is a vital precursor to a Bill being accepted into the system, but given backing for Ms Ferguson's Bill from the STUC and legal firm Thompsons it seems unlikely it will fall at this hurdle.

The consultation launch will take place at the STUC headquarters this morning.