The Coroner Service

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Jul 2020 Closed: 1 Dec 2021 Parliament page
This inquiry examined the effectiveness and capacity of the Coroner Service. It also looked at whether enough progress has been made in improving bereaved people's experience of the Coroner Service. The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 introduced changes to the service which were implemented in 2013. This included the appointment … Read more
26 Recommendations
2 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 3 events
22 Feb
2022
Correspondence
10 Sep
2021
Report published
27 May
2021
Report published
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Coroner Service HC 68 27 May 2021 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
12 Recommendation Accepted in Part
1st Report - The Coroner Service
Bereaved people should not be put through the difficult and time-consuming process of meeting the...
Bereaved people should not be put through the difficult and time-consuming process of meeting the exceptional cases requirements and the means test for legal aid where public authorities are legally represented at public expense at the inquest into the death … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to introducing legislation to remove the means test for Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) in relation to legal representation at inquests and provide non-means tested legal help where ECF is granted, while deferring the wider issue of legal aid to its response to Bishop James’ report.
Ministry of Justice
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24 Recommendation Accepted in Part
1st Report - The Coroner Service
It is unacceptable that the people who have been bereaved are not entitled to automatic...
It is unacceptable that the people who have been bereaved are not entitled to automatic non-means tested legal aid at inquests into multiple deaths following a public disaster. These inquests are complex and ‘equality of arms’ is a fundamental requirement … Read more
Government Response
The government will take forward legislation to remove the means test for applications for exceptional case funding (ECF) for legal representation at inquests and proposes non-means tested legal help where ECF has been granted. It does not commit to automatic entitlement for all mass fatalities.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 26 classified
Accepted 7
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 10
Rejected 8
Total 26 recs + 2 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
22 Feb 2022 To committee Response from Chief Coroner on coroner service report
Parliament page