Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle backlogs in the coroners' court system.

Coroner services are funded and administered by local authorities. However, the Government recognises the pressures experienced by local authorities as a result of the pandemic and has provided £6.15 billion in un-ringfenced funding to local authorities in England and additional funding to the Devolved Administrations under the Barnett formula, to help them manage the costs of those additional pressures, which could include coroner services.

The Chief Coroner has issued guidance to coroners on developing recovery plans and engaging with local authorities on the resources required to deal with the outstanding backlog of cases caused by the Covid 19 pandemic: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GUIDANCE-No-39-Covid-recovery-20-05-2021-002.pdf. He is also undertaking a tour of all coroner areas to engage with them on their post-pandemic recovery plans.

The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022, which received Royal Assent on 28 April, includes a number of measures to streamline coroners’ court processes, support the coronial system with post-pandemic recovery plans and minimise distress to bereaved families.