London Bombings (Government Response to Coroner's Inquests)

Baroness May of Maidenhead Excerpts

Tuesday 19th July 2011 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May)]

In my written ministerial statement on 9 May, Official Report, columns 26-27WS, I undertook to inform the House of the Government’s response to Lady Justice Hallett’s report following her inquests into the 7 July attacks.

All responses have been published on the inquests website earlier today. The Government have not asked for any part of their response to be withheld.

The Government and the Security Service have carefully considered the coroner’s report and fully accept the three recommendations directed to it—namely recommendations 1, 2 and 9. The Government response sets out in full the next steps which have been or will be taken to address these three recommendations.

The Government response also provides full consideration on areas of concern that were raised by the coroner, but which were not attached to formal recommendations, and considers the broader UK implications of those recommendations addressed to London-based organisations.

Lady Justice Hallett has identified important areas where the Government and local partners, including the emergency services, can work to improve our ability to respond to emergencies. Through the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and the wider Resilience Programme led by the Cabinet Office, we will work to implement swiftly the actions set out in the Government’s response.

A copy of the Government response will be placed in the Library of the House.