Scottish Ministers asked to commission permanent memorial to Lancastria victims
The Lancastria Association of Scotland has written to the Scottish Executive asking them to commission a permanent Lancastria memorial to be erected in Scotland. The move is the first step in bringing wider recognition across Scotland and is vital before a petition is presented to the Scottish Parliament early in the New Year. Mark Hirst explained:
"We had hoped to petition the Scottish Parliament in December asking MSPs to commission a memorial as well as a medal for victims and survivors of the sinking. However after discussions with the Parliamentary clerks we are writing in the first instance to Scottish Ministers directly.
"If Scottish Ministers prove, for whatever reason, unresponsive to our request then we then move the Scottish Parliament. We have to demonstrate to the Petitions committee at the Parliament that we have exhausted all other available routes, hence the approach directly to Ministers."
It is hoped that if Ministers or Parliament agree then a lasting memorial could be built on the site of the former Dalmuir Yard in Clydebank, Glasgow where Lancastria was built. NHS Scotland, who are ultimately responsible to Scottish Ministers, presently own the site.
