Thursday, October 29, 2009

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer 2, Government 0

The Coroners and Justice Bill is still winding its merry way through the Lords, with Sue Miller leading for us there. The strategy is clearly to improve access and reduce delay, and her first victory was on amendment 1, which read

in clause 1, page 2, line 20, at end to insert:

“( ) A senior coroner shall inform the Chief Coroner if completion of an investigation is likely to take more than 12 months from the time that the coroner was notified of the death.

( ) The Chief Coroner shall maintain a register of prolonged investigations.”

For some reason, the Government weren't willing to accept such an obviously reasonable proposal, but after a 173-119 defeat, perhaps they will rethink. However, not content with that, she moved amendment 4,

after clause 5, to insert the new clause Information for inquests.

Again, another defeat for the Government, this time by 158 votes to 128.

It's good to see that we're still taking the fight to this increasingly hapless administration...

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