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Straw drops secret inquest plans Straw drops secret inquest plans
(30 minutes later)
The government is dropping plans to hold secret inquests without juries, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.The government is dropping plans to hold secret inquests without juries, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.
In a Commons written statement, Mr Straw said the move did not command the necessary cross-party support, despite earlier government concessions.In a Commons written statement, Mr Straw said the move did not command the necessary cross-party support, despite earlier government concessions.
Non-jury inquests were included in the Coroners and Justice Bill earlier this year to cover cases involving sensitive information. Non-jury private inquests were included in the Coroners and Justice Bill earlier this year to cover cases involving sensitive information.
But Mr Straw now says the concessions had not gone far enough for critics.But Mr Straw now says the concessions had not gone far enough for critics.
He had tightened the proposed rules in March so that the final decision would rest with a High Court judge, rather than the secretary of state. The government had argued that in some cases inquests should be held in private for national security, crime prevention or diplomatic reasons.
Mr Straw said: "The government felt these changes struck a fair and proportionate balance between the interests of bereaved families, the need to protect sensitive material and judicial oversight of the whole process. In response to criticism, Mr Straw tightened the proposed rules in March. He altered the plans so a High Court judge, rather than ministers, would have the final decision over whether the press and public would be banned from an inquest.
"However, following further discussions in the House and with interested parties, it is clear the provisions still do not command the necessary cross party support and in the circumstances the government will table amendments to remove Clauses 11 and 12 from the bill." In his statement on Friday, Mr Straw said: "The government felt these changes struck a fair and proportionate balance between the interests of bereaved families, the need to protect sensitive material and judicial oversight of the whole process.
Mr Straw said that where it was not possible to proceed with an inquest under existing arrangements, the government would consider establishing an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 instead. "However, following further discussions in the House and with interested parties, it is clear the provisions still do not command the necessary cross-party support and in the circumstances the government will table amendments to remove clauses 11 and 12 from the bill."
He added that where it was not possible to proceed with an inquest under existing arrangements, the government would consider establishing an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 instead.