Talks with minister 'really positive', says Shrewsbury baby ashes campaigner
The leader of a campaign group seeking justice after Shropshire's baby ashes scandal says he is "walking on air" following a meeting with the Justice Minister.
Glen Perkins, founder of Action for Ashes, met with Caroline Dinenage along with other parents to discuss changes in law following the scandal.
Mr Perkins' four-month-old daughter Olivia died in 2007 and was cremated at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury and at the time the family were told there were no ashes.
An investigation then found that more than 60 families had been denied ashes at the crematorium. Speaking after the meeting yesterday, Mr Perkins said: "It was fantastic, it was a very productive meeting.
"They gave us a fixed agenda and some major points and it was no surprise but there was no mention of a national investigation team."
Last month, Mr Perkins said he would use the meeting as a way of highlighting the need for a national investigation into baby cremations and historical cases similar to his families.
He said: "She was very good and asked for anything we thought should be included in the plans and I said about this inquiry.
"She had gone into more detail about it, what it would achieve and how it would be done.
"She seemed very keen on looking into that idea and I feel confident that we could get a national investigation.
"I made it clear that if she doesn't have one that this wouldn't go away.
"Even after this meeting I have been persistent and said that I won't go away.
"But she did say she was very pleased with the work Action for Ashes has done and how it has helped her in her job as well. I am really positive with the way today went."
The meeting talked about the consultation looking at how cremations across Britain are administered.
Its launch came after an independent inquiry carried out by David Jenkins into the way infant cremations were carried out at Emstrey Crematorium was published last month.
Potential changes included in the consultation include the appointment of an inspector of crematoria for England and Wales and a new universal code of practice.
It has also suggested that reviews of crematorium facilities and out-of-hours services provided by coroners could also be undertaken.
Mr Perkins said discussions talked about the different roles people could play and the legislation surrounding cremations of babies in the UK.
He said: "I went in feeling a big weight on my shoulders and I came out walking on air.
"It seems so positive right now and I just can't believe that we have got this far.
"I am so pleased we have had an impact. It is so overwhelming, I could cry."
