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1654089

registered interest
date	18/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Bar Standards Board: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of changes in the level of complaints made to the Bar Standards Board by criminal law barristers over the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Apsana Begum
uin	194951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice has not carried out an assessment on any factors affecting the level of complaints made to the Bar Standards Board about barristers. The regulators of the legal profession in England and Wales, including the Bar Standards Board, are independent of Government.</p><p> </p><p>There are two routes for complaints about barristers in England and Wales - the Legal Ombudsman and the Bar Standard Board. The Legal Ombudsman deals with complaints about the service provided to the complainant by an authorised person, while the Bar Standards Board deals with complaints where a barrister is alleged to be in breach of the Bar Standards Board’s codes of conduct. The Bar Standards Board publishes data on its complaints in its Regulatory Decision-making Annual Report.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 25/07/2023 09:01:46 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4790 label Biography information for Apsana Begum

1653354

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Accommodation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his timeline is for delivering the 20,000 additional modern prison places announced by his Department on 18 February 2022.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	194333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2023 answer text <p>So far c.5,400 places have been delivered. This includes two new c.1,700 place prisons, HMP Five Wells, which opened last year, and HMP Fosse Way, which accepted its first prisoners at the end of May. At least 6,400 prison places are anticipated to be delivered by the end of May 2024, rising to over 8,000 by the end of May 2025, including places already delivered to date. In addition to these places, we have extended the lease at HMP Dartmoor, maintaining 680 places from December 2023.</p><p>Our prison builds are complex capital projects, which are being delivered within challenging market conditions. Securing planning permission is a significant factor in timelines; we have submitted planning appeals following refusal of three applications for sites in Lancashire, Leicestershire, and Buckinghamshire and await decisions. Given the planning appeals are ongoing and subject to a recovered decision by DLUHC, it would not be appropriate to comment further. If planning is successful, these prisons would open as soon as possible to meet the pressing demand on prison places.</p><p>We will push for earlier delivery of places wherever possible, and we are continuing to press ahead with further options to delivery capacity across the estate.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/07/2023 12:28:16 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1653383

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many inquests in coroners’ courts have been opened and adjourned for longer than two years in (a) England, (b) London and (c) Barnet as of 17 July 2023.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics" target="_blank">Coroner Statistics</a> each May covering the preceding calendar year. The information is collated from data provided by each of the 81 coroner areas across England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>Data from the published statistics is set out in the table below, across all coroner areas for each of the last five years, on the total number of inquests recorded, the average length of inquests, the total number of inquests open for more than two years, and the total number of inquests suspended and not resumed. The requested information for inquests adjourned for longer than two years in England, London and Barnet only is not collated as part of the annual statistics. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155711/coroners-statistics-2022-csvs.zip" target="_blank">Table CSV</a> included in the annual publication provides further information for adjourned inquests by coroner area.</p><p>The published statistics also record the average length of an inquest in individual coroner areas and Barnet is part of the North London Coroner area with Brent, Harrow, Haringey and Enfield. Table 13 collates this information by region.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have a target for the length of time an inquest should take. Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way they manage their caseload is a matter for them. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the Chief Coroner issued <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/chief-coroners-guidance-no-39-recovery-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">guidance</a> to coroners on how their services can best recover and tackle backlogs that accumulated in some areas.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 26 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 require coroners to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation which has not been completed or discontinued within a year of the death being reported to them, and provide reasons for this. They must also notify the Chief Coroner when such investigations are completed or discontinued.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of inquests recorded </strong></p></td><td><p>36,273</p></td><td><p>32,762</p></td><td><p>31,991</p></td><td><p>29,969</p></td><td><p>29,094</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average length of inquest </strong></p></td><td><p>30 weeks</p></td><td><p>31 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>26 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests open for more than 2 years at year end </strong></p></td><td><p>1,760</p></td><td><p>1,366</p></td><td><p>1,104</p></td><td><p>601</p></td><td><p>472</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests suspended due to criminal proceedings and not resumed </strong></p></td><td><p>748</p></td><td><p>729</p></td><td><p>599</p></td><td><p>849</p></td><td><p>834</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194382 194383 194384 194385 194390 question first answered 25/07/2023 09:48:26 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653384

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many inquests have remained open for more than two years in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics" target="_blank">Coroner Statistics</a> each May covering the preceding calendar year. The information is collated from data provided by each of the 81 coroner areas across England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>Data from the published statistics is set out in the table below, across all coroner areas for each of the last five years, on the total number of inquests recorded, the average length of inquests, the total number of inquests open for more than two years, and the total number of inquests suspended and not resumed. The requested information for inquests adjourned for longer than two years in England, London and Barnet only is not collated as part of the annual statistics. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155711/coroners-statistics-2022-csvs.zip" target="_blank">Table CSV</a> included in the annual publication provides further information for adjourned inquests by coroner area.</p><p>The published statistics also record the average length of an inquest in individual coroner areas and Barnet is part of the North London Coroner area with Brent, Harrow, Haringey and Enfield. Table 13 collates this information by region.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have a target for the length of time an inquest should take. Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way they manage their caseload is a matter for them. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the Chief Coroner issued <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/chief-coroners-guidance-no-39-recovery-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">guidance</a> to coroners on how their services can best recover and tackle backlogs that accumulated in some areas.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 26 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 require coroners to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation which has not been completed or discontinued within a year of the death being reported to them, and provide reasons for this. They must also notify the Chief Coroner when such investigations are completed or discontinued.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of inquests recorded </strong></p></td><td><p>36,273</p></td><td><p>32,762</p></td><td><p>31,991</p></td><td><p>29,969</p></td><td><p>29,094</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average length of inquest </strong></p></td><td><p>30 weeks</p></td><td><p>31 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>26 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests open for more than 2 years at year end </strong></p></td><td><p>1,760</p></td><td><p>1,366</p></td><td><p>1,104</p></td><td><p>601</p></td><td><p>472</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests suspended due to criminal proceedings and not resumed </strong></p></td><td><p>748</p></td><td><p>729</p></td><td><p>599</p></td><td><p>849</p></td><td><p>834</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194381 194383 194384 194385 194390 question first answered 25/07/2023 09:48:26 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653385

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the average length of time from an inquest being opened to it being concluded in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics" target="_blank">Coroner Statistics</a> each May covering the preceding calendar year. The information is collated from data provided by each of the 81 coroner areas across England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>Data from the published statistics is set out in the table below, across all coroner areas for each of the last five years, on the total number of inquests recorded, the average length of inquests, the total number of inquests open for more than two years, and the total number of inquests suspended and not resumed. The requested information for inquests adjourned for longer than two years in England, London and Barnet only is not collated as part of the annual statistics. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155711/coroners-statistics-2022-csvs.zip" target="_blank">Table CSV</a> included in the annual publication provides further information for adjourned inquests by coroner area.</p><p>The published statistics also record the average length of an inquest in individual coroner areas and Barnet is part of the North London Coroner area with Brent, Harrow, Haringey and Enfield. Table 13 collates this information by region.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have a target for the length of time an inquest should take. Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way they manage their caseload is a matter for them. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the Chief Coroner issued <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/chief-coroners-guidance-no-39-recovery-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">guidance</a> to coroners on how their services can best recover and tackle backlogs that accumulated in some areas.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 26 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 require coroners to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation which has not been completed or discontinued within a year of the death being reported to them, and provide reasons for this. They must also notify the Chief Coroner when such investigations are completed or discontinued.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of inquests recorded </strong></p></td><td><p>36,273</p></td><td><p>32,762</p></td><td><p>31,991</p></td><td><p>29,969</p></td><td><p>29,094</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average length of inquest </strong></p></td><td><p>30 weeks</p></td><td><p>31 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>26 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests open for more than 2 years at year end </strong></p></td><td><p>1,760</p></td><td><p>1,366</p></td><td><p>1,104</p></td><td><p>601</p></td><td><p>472</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests suspended due to criminal proceedings and not resumed </strong></p></td><td><p>748</p></td><td><p>729</p></td><td><p>599</p></td><td><p>849</p></td><td><p>834</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194381 194382 194384 194385 194390 question first answered 25/07/2023 09:48:26 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653386

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the average length of time from an inquest being opened to it being concluded in each region in England.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics" target="_blank">Coroner Statistics</a> each May covering the preceding calendar year. The information is collated from data provided by each of the 81 coroner areas across England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>Data from the published statistics is set out in the table below, across all coroner areas for each of the last five years, on the total number of inquests recorded, the average length of inquests, the total number of inquests open for more than two years, and the total number of inquests suspended and not resumed. The requested information for inquests adjourned for longer than two years in England, London and Barnet only is not collated as part of the annual statistics. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155711/coroners-statistics-2022-csvs.zip" target="_blank">Table CSV</a> included in the annual publication provides further information for adjourned inquests by coroner area.</p><p>The published statistics also record the average length of an inquest in individual coroner areas and Barnet is part of the North London Coroner area with Brent, Harrow, Haringey and Enfield. Table 13 collates this information by region.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have a target for the length of time an inquest should take. Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way they manage their caseload is a matter for them. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the Chief Coroner issued <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/chief-coroners-guidance-no-39-recovery-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">guidance</a> to coroners on how their services can best recover and tackle backlogs that accumulated in some areas.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 26 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 require coroners to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation which has not been completed or discontinued within a year of the death being reported to them, and provide reasons for this. They must also notify the Chief Coroner when such investigations are completed or discontinued.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of inquests recorded </strong></p></td><td><p>36,273</p></td><td><p>32,762</p></td><td><p>31,991</p></td><td><p>29,969</p></td><td><p>29,094</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average length of inquest </strong></p></td><td><p>30 weeks</p></td><td><p>31 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>26 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests open for more than 2 years at year end </strong></p></td><td><p>1,760</p></td><td><p>1,366</p></td><td><p>1,104</p></td><td><p>601</p></td><td><p>472</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests suspended due to criminal proceedings and not resumed </strong></p></td><td><p>748</p></td><td><p>729</p></td><td><p>599</p></td><td><p>849</p></td><td><p>834</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194381 194382 194383 194385 194390 question first answered 25/07/2023 09:48:26 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653387

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has a target for the length of time an inquest should take from its opening to its conclusion.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics" target="_blank">Coroner Statistics</a> each May covering the preceding calendar year. The information is collated from data provided by each of the 81 coroner areas across England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>Data from the published statistics is set out in the table below, across all coroner areas for each of the last five years, on the total number of inquests recorded, the average length of inquests, the total number of inquests open for more than two years, and the total number of inquests suspended and not resumed. The requested information for inquests adjourned for longer than two years in England, London and Barnet only is not collated as part of the annual statistics. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1155711/coroners-statistics-2022-csvs.zip" target="_blank">Table CSV</a> included in the annual publication provides further information for adjourned inquests by coroner area.</p><p>The published statistics also record the average length of an inquest in individual coroner areas and Barnet is part of the North London Coroner area with Brent, Harrow, Haringey and Enfield. Table 13 collates this information by region.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice does not have a target for the length of time an inquest should take. Coroners are independent judicial office holders and the way they manage their caseload is a matter for them. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the Chief Coroner issued <a href="https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/chief-coroners-guidance-no-39-recovery-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">guidance</a> to coroners on how their services can best recover and tackle backlogs that accumulated in some areas.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 26 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 require coroners to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation which has not been completed or discontinued within a year of the death being reported to them, and provide reasons for this. They must also notify the Chief Coroner when such investigations are completed or discontinued.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Number of inquests recorded </strong></p></td><td><p>36,273</p></td><td><p>32,762</p></td><td><p>31,991</p></td><td><p>29,969</p></td><td><p>29,094</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average length of inquest </strong></p></td><td><p>30 weeks</p></td><td><p>31 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>27 weeks</p></td><td><p>26 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests open for more than 2 years at year end </strong></p></td><td><p>1,760</p></td><td><p>1,366</p></td><td><p>1,104</p></td><td><p>601</p></td><td><p>472</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Inquests suspended due to criminal proceedings and not resumed </strong></p></td><td><p>748</p></td><td><p>729</p></td><td><p>599</p></td><td><p>849</p></td><td><p>834</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194381 194382 194383 194384 194390 question first answered 25/07/2023 09:48:26 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653388

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of local authority spending on coroner services in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194386
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>Whilst the Ministry of Justice is responsible for coroner law and policy, it does not have operational responsibility for coroner services which are a local service, funded and administered by individual local authorities. Local authorities’ independence from central Government means that they are responsible for managing their budgets in line with local priorities. This is appropriate as central Government cannot predict exactly what the cost of a local service will be.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing" target="_blank">Local authority revenue and financing information</a> for England is published annually on gov.uk. The following table sets out data on expenditure on coroners’ court services for each of the last five financial years:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total expenditure (employers’ costs and running costs) (£000)</p></td><td><p>Expenditure net of fees and other service income (£000)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021-2022</p></td><td><p>173,000</p></td><td><p>123,685</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020-2021</p></td><td><p>166,376</p></td><td><p>123,453</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019-2020</p></td><td><p>149,450</p></td><td><p>108,983</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-2019</p></td><td><p>131,804</p></td><td><p>95,341</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>124,796</p></td><td><p>92,360</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Ministry of Justice is unable to estimate spending on coroner services from the Pandemic Recovery Fund.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194387 question first answered 25/07/2023 08:50:01 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653389

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of the Pandemic Recovery Fund for local authorities that has been spent on coroners’ services.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>Whilst the Ministry of Justice is responsible for coroner law and policy, it does not have operational responsibility for coroner services which are a local service, funded and administered by individual local authorities. Local authorities’ independence from central Government means that they are responsible for managing their budgets in line with local priorities. This is appropriate as central Government cannot predict exactly what the cost of a local service will be.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing" target="_blank">Local authority revenue and financing information</a> for England is published annually on gov.uk. The following table sets out data on expenditure on coroners’ court services for each of the last five financial years:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total expenditure (employers’ costs and running costs) (£000)</p></td><td><p>Expenditure net of fees and other service income (£000)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021-2022</p></td><td><p>173,000</p></td><td><p>123,685</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020-2021</p></td><td><p>166,376</p></td><td><p>123,453</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019-2020</p></td><td><p>149,450</p></td><td><p>108,983</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-2019</p></td><td><p>131,804</p></td><td><p>95,341</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-2018</p></td><td><p>124,796</p></td><td><p>92,360</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Ministry of Justice is unable to estimate spending on coroner services from the Pandemic Recovery Fund.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 194386 question first answered 25/07/2023 08:50:01 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1653391

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Coroners: Pathology
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of pathologist’s available to assist in coroners’ services.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	194389
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The shortage of pathologists to undertake coronial post-mortem examinations is a long-standing and cross-cutting issue.</p><p>I am concerned that progress should be made to address the shortage as soon as practicable and so am engaging with relevant Ministerial colleagues to identify and implement urgent action to address the complex underlying issues.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 25/07/2023 08:50:52 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord