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Coroner Reform Bill

My right honourable friend the Minister of State has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. On 6 February, I announced my intention to publish a draft Bill to reform the coroner system in England and Wales (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 608). The draft Bill will be laid and published today, and will also be available on the departmental website (www.dca.gov.uk/legist.htm). The draft Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, and I am arranging for a separate strand of pre-legislative scrutiny by families who have recent experience of the coroners' service, which will assist honourable Members in their scrutiny of the Bill.