The draft Coroners Bill aims to modernise the coroner system so that it provides a more effective response to bereaved families and others who are touched by the service. It will have new national leadership, while at the same time retaining the best features of a locally based service, and coroners will have new powers to carry out more effective investigations. The draft Coroners Bill was published on 12th June 2006.
The Bill will provide six key reforms to the coroner system:
These proposals are the result of taking onboard the reports of two public enquiries and a Government position paper. The Fundamental Review of Death certification and Investigation chaired by Mr Tom Luce and the Shipman Inquiry chaired by Dame Janet Smith, both made valuable suggestions with regard to the reform of the coroner service. The proposals in Government position paper published in March 2004 built on these suggestions.
Following the transfer of responsibility for coroners from the Home Office to the DCA, and a review of the policy, it was decided that the best way forward was through the measures contained in this draft Bill
The Constitutional Affairs Select Committee held an inquiry into reform of the coroners' system and death certification, which included pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Coroners' Bill. On 1 August 2006, the Committee published its findings:
On 7 November 2006, the Government published its response to the Committee’s report
The draft Coroners Bill was published on 12th June 2006.
House |
Stage |
Date |
|---|---|---|
| Commons | Published | 12 June 2006 |