1st Report - The Coroner Service
Select Committee
Justice Committee
HC 68
27 May 2021
Government response
3rd Special Report - The Coroner Service: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report · published 10 Sep 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
3
Recommendation
Rejected
Tom Luce, among others, has identified the Ministry of Justice decision not to publish its...
Recommendation
Tom Luce, among others, has identified the Ministry of Justice decision not to publish its 2015 review of the operation of the 2009 Act as a serious breach of a commitment to do so. No good reason has been given …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to immediately publish its 2015 review of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, stating the analysis is outdated and bringing it to a publishable standard would require disproportionate resources.
Ministry of Justice
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6
Recommendation
Rejected
Help and support for bereaved people depend on the priorities, capacity and skills of the...
Recommendation
Help and support for bereaved people depend on the priorities, capacity and skills of the local Coroner Service and local volunteers in the Coroners’ Courts Support Service. The Ministry of Justice should as a matter of urgency provide funding for …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to provide urgent funding for support services for bereaved people at inquests, citing the need for further detailed work on affordability and legal/commercial issues.
Ministry of Justice
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16
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 134
Pathology services for coroners have been neglected over many years leading to serious problems.
Recommendation
Pathology services for coroners have been neglected over many years leading to serious problems.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to immediately review and increase pathologists’ fees, arguing that fees are not the sole cause of shortages and there's no evidence that raising them would address the problem. It will, however, keep the issue under consideration and engage with relevant bodies to find a sustainable solution.
Ministry of Justice
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17
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 135
The Ministry of Justice should immediately review and increase Coroner Service fees for pathologists, so...
Recommendation
The Ministry of Justice should immediately review and increase Coroner Service fees for pathologists, so they are enough to ensure an adequate supply of pathology services to the Coroner Service.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to immediately review and increase Coroner Service fees for pathologists, arguing it's not the sole reason for shortages, and an increase alone lacks evidence to solve the problem; it will keep the issue under consideration and engage to find a sustainable solution.
Ministry of Justice
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20
Recommendation
Rejected
Para 157
The majority of witnesses to our inquiry, two Chief Coroners, and almost everyone who has...
Recommendation
The majority of witnesses to our inquiry, two Chief Coroners, and almost everyone who has been commissioned to review aspects of the Coroner Service sees the need for a unified service for England and Wales. There is unacceptable variation in …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to unite coroner services into a single national service, citing the massive change project involved, complex negotiations, and its belief that it would not necessarily be the best solution; instead, it will continue to support local authority mergers of coroner areas.
Ministry of Justice
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21
Recommendation
Rejected
As with calls for a national service for England and Wales, there is an overwhelming...
Recommendation
As with calls for a national service for England and Wales, there is an overwhelming and long-standing view that the Coroner Service would benefit from the presence of an inspectorate overseeing its work. As with those calls, we are merely …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for a Coroner Service Inspectorate, arguing that a single national service would be a massive, complex change project and not necessarily the best solution, preferring to support local authority mergers of coroner areas.
Ministry of Justice
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22
Recommendation
Rejected
Consequent upon the establishment of a national service and an inspectorate, there should be a...
Recommendation
Consequent upon the establishment of a national service and an inspectorate, there should be a review of the mechanisms available for handling complaints against Coroners. (Paragraph 167) Public disasters
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for a review of coroner complaint mechanisms, stating that coroners are independent judicial office holders and the existing Judicial Conduct Investigations Office provides a robust and consistent process for complaints.
Ministry of Justice
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23
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 179
There has been good progress in improving the Coroner Service’s response to public disasters.
Conclusion
There has been good progress in improving the Coroner Service’s response to public disasters. However, a National Coroner Service is needed to ensure that inquests into mass fatalities are properly managed and that the deceased and bereaved people are always …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the idea that a National Coroner Service is needed, stating it would be a massive change project and not necessarily the best solution, and instead will continue working with local authorities to identify opportunities for coroner area mergers.
Ministry of Justice
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