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Select Committee · Justice Committee

The Coroner Service

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Jul 2020 Closed: 1 Dec 2021 26 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

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 of the Chief Coroner. Read … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Coroner Service HC 68 27 May 2021 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
12 Recommendation 1st Report - The Coroner Service Accepted in Part

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 of their loved one. The Ministry of Justice should by … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Ministry of Justice
24 Recommendation 1st Report - The Coroner Service Accepted in Part

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 to make sure those who have been bereaved can participate … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Ministry of Justice

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
22 Feb 2022 To cttee Response from Chief Coroner on coroner service report