At Justice Questions today, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, raised the issue of accessibility of an out-of-hours coroner for those within faith communities, such as Jews and Muslim.
Mr Freer asked the Minister: “Will my hon. Friend take steps to ensure that coroners provide an out-of-hours service for faith communities.”
The Parliamentary Under Secretary, Caroline Dinenage, responding on behalf of the Justice Secretary, recognised the necessity of coroners being available out-of-hours so that a death can be confirmed and certified, as is required by British law, quickly to allow for a funeral ceremony to take place:
“The Government are committed to ensuring that bereaved people are at the heart of the coroner system, and we are working with coroners, local authorities and the police to develop a pan-London out-of-hours service. On 15 October we launched a post-implementation review of the coroner reforms of 2013, including views on the availability of out-of-hours services.”
The purpose of Mr Freer’s question was to emphasise that due to religious and cultural conventions, it is often required that certain practices are adhered to following the death of a loved one. The Member for Finchley & Golders Green made reference to these religious traditions when he replied to Ms Dinenage’s answer:
“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer, but may I press her specifically on Orthodox Jews and Orthodox Muslims, who require a speedy service and a speedy burial? Will she commit to giving strict guidance to coroners that they should turn around such decisions so that those burials can take place very quickly?”
For a full record of Hansard please follow this link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151103/debtext/151103-0001.htm#15110340000011