Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Swales Excerpts

Tuesday 13th December 2011 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD)]

1. What assessment he has made of whether there should be a compulsory retirement age for coroners.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Jonathan Djanogly)]

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 requires a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner to vacate office on reaching the age of 70. The Government intend to implement this provision as soon as is practicable, although the retirement age will not apply to those in post immediately before the change comes into effect.

[Ian Swales]

I thank the Minister for that answer. The Teesside coroner is used as a bad example nationally by charities such as Cardiac Risk in the Young and the Royal British Legion. It is led by 81-year-old Michael Sheffield. Will the Minister meet a delegation of local MPs to discuss how the performance of the Teesside service could be improved?

[Mr Djanogly]

I am happy to meet to discuss the Teesside service, but not the coroner per se. The Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor are aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the Teesside coroner and have asked the Office for Judicial Complaints to investigate. I cannot comment any further while that investigation is ongoing.