Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations his Department has received on the comments of Mary Hassell, a North London Coroner, who has maintained a policy that no body will be prioritised for release and burial because of the religion of the deceased or their family.

Coroners are independent judicial office holders. As such, it would be inappropriate for Ministers to comment on the reported actions of the Inner North London Senior Coroner.

The Department has received a number of representations, including from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the London Borough of Camden which funds the Inner North London Coroner Service.