Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to improve faith and cultural training for coroners to assist in the (a) timely dealing with deaths, (b) type of post mortem used and (c) process for the release of the body for burial for those from minority faith groups.

The Chief Coroner has responsibility under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 for the training of coroners and coroner’s officers and all coroners are now required to attend compulsory training provided by the Judicial College.

The Judicial College also produces an Equal Treatment Bench Book which provides advice and guidance to judicial office holders (including coroners) to enable them to deal confidently, sensitively and fairly with all those who appear before them and includes a section on religion and belief.

I am also continuing work to make sure bereaved people are at the very heart of the coroner system – it is paramount that the services are there to help the whole community. The review of coroner services that I have recently announced will be important in achieving this.