Jonathan Djanogly MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

08 November 2011

Dear Jonathan,

I am writing to express my concern at the inclusion of the Chief Coroner, Deputy Chief Coroners, Medical Advisers to the Chief Coroner and Deputy Medical Advisers to the Chief Coroner in the list of public bodies whose powers can be modified or transferred under powers included in the Public Bodies Bill.

Whilst I am pleased that the Chief Coroner is no longer in the list of Public Bodies which will be scrapped altogether by this Bill if it becomes law, I share the concerns of many campaigners that without the driving force and national leadership of a Chief Coroner the aim of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 "to put the bereaved at the heart of the process" will be rendered hollow and that, as a consequence, some much needed improvements to the current system may not be made.

This would be a disservice to the many bereaved families who currently face significant delays and a ‘postcode lottery' of service. Tom Luce, the government-appointed independent reviewer concluded in 2003 that the system was "not fit for purpose."

The proposal for a Ministerial Board on coroner issues which meets a few times a year, whilst a positive step, is no substitute for a single, dedicated, judicial office with statutory powers to implement changes and lead change in the system. Without the clear judicial authority of the Chief Coroner, individual coroners will continue to operate in isolation and without the support and benefit of an overarching framework giving clear direction and leadership whilst they deal with their complex and important work.

Moreover, dismantling the Chief Coroner's Office is a false economy. The existing system results in huge financial costs to the public purse and human costs to bereaved families and others engaged in the system through delayed or postponed hearings, judicial reviews of coroners' decisions and repeated investigations and inquests into similar deaths. The costings relied on by the Secretary of State for Justice do not take this waste fully into account and do not demonstrate that his proposal will result in significant savings or improvements.

I urge you to accept amendments by the House of Lords to retain the post of Chief Coroner as part of a commitment by the Government to work towards a first-class inquest system.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Read the Minister's reply