'Suspicions' over inquest reform

The Lib Dems have said they fear controversial proposals to hold some inquests in private on grounds of national security may be resurrected.

Plans to hold some inquests without juries or the public were dropped last month after widespread criticism.

Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said he was "suspicious" the plans would be revived in a bill on coroners reform.

Justice secretary Jack Straw refused to rule this out, saying he would consider options before outlining proposals.

'Essential bulwark'

Reform of the coroners service was included in the government's controversial counter-terrorism bill debated in the last Parliament but was suddenly removed last month.

At the time, ministers said aspects of its reform proposals had not been entirely dropped and would appear in a future coroners bill in the new session of Parliament.

Speaking in a debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Huhne said the government's earlier proposals - which would have required coroners to hold "secret inquests" in some circumstances - were "frankly horrendous and "must not be resuscitated".

An open and accountable coroners service was an "essential bulwark against the abuse of state power", he argued, particularly relating to cases of deaths in custody.

Mr Straw denied there were plans for "secret inquests", saying the earlier proposals for reform had related to inquest with juries, which represented a small fraction of total inquests.

"Coroners are a very crucial part of holding the abuse of state power to account"
Chris Huhne, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman

Ministers had called for new powers to remove juries, relatives and the public from certain hearings to ensure sensitive information, such as details of phone taps, were not published.

Although the government said the majority of inquests would still take place in public, critics said it would have set a dangerous precedent and not just applied to terrorist cases.

On Wednesday, the government said it was "reflecting carefully" on the issue and would "set out" its position shortly.

It added: "It is our intention to legislate to ensure inquests have all the information central to an investigation into a death, including information which cannot be disclosed publicly without harming the public interest, for example, for reasons of national security".

Reform needed

Mr Huhne acknowledged reform of the coroners system was needed to ensure inquests could take place more quickly.

"It is absolutely crucial for bereaved families that they are able to get an inquest rapidly," he said.

But he stressed this must not come at the expense of the integrity of the system and public trust in the work coroners do.

"Coroners are a very crucial part of holding the abuse of state power to account."

Proposals included in the Coroners and Justice Bill include a new death certification system to certify that an independent review of the cause of death has been carried out.

The bill would also create the new post of Chief Coroner who will establish national standards for the service and monitor compliance.

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