Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Coroner System Reforms And Government Response

28 October 2021 · 0 other contributors · 1,513 words

Opened by Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick

Responding minister: Not recorded

Justice & Courts

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Slaughter raised concerns about coroner system reforms and government response in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Andrew Slaughter is concerned about the slow pace of reform in the coroner system following the Justice Committee's report.
  • Slaughter highlights the absence of key measures such as non-means tested legal aid and an independent oversight mechanism in the Government's response.
  • Slaughter asks the Minister for clarity on policy statements, timelines for publishing the bishop's report response, and guidance on legal aid.

Key requests to Government

Slaughter asks the Minister to provide a clearer policy statement regarding coroner services, specifically addressing consistency in decision-making across different districts. He also requests clarification on when the response to the bishop's report will be published, when legal aid guidance will become clear, and whether some of the issues currently not ruled out in the Bill (such as appeals, inspection, and an independent oversight mechanism) will be considered for inclusion.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick

Andrew Slaughter is concerned about the inadequate response from the Government to the Justice Committee's report on coroner system reforms. He highlights the slow pace of reform, mentioning that it took six years for legislation recommended by Sir Tom Luce in 2003 to be passed and four more years before it was implemented. Slaughter also criticises the lack of non-means tested legal aid, appeals on coroners' decisions, a national coroner service, an inspectorate, complaints procedure, and an independent office as major omissions from the Government's response.

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