|
Kevan Jones MP
"I want to discuss two issues that were
omitted from the Queen’s Speech. When the hon. Member for North-West
Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) raised the issue of a coroners Bill, I was not
pleased by the Lord Chancellor’s response. The Lord Chancellor implied
that only the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk wants such a Bill, but
many Labour Members want to see its introduction. The Bill exists in
draft form, and it is long overdue, because we need to bring up to date
the archaic coroner system in this country. The draft Bill followed an
excellent report by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, which we
debated earlier this year in Westminster Hall. The Bill would provide an
opportunity not only to bring the coroner service up to date, but to
tackle some issues that affect our constituents.
I chair the all-party group on cardiac risk in the young, and the
charity Cardiac Risk in the Young is anxious to see the introduction of
the coroners Bill. One issue is the need to introduce a system to ensure
that when young people suddenly die of cardiac failure it is properly
investigated and the statistics, which can influence the debate, are
kept. At the moment, the problem is that the sudden deaths of young
people are investigated differently in different jurisdictions. Such
cases are, for example, sometimes put down to drowning. In areas in
which coroners are proactive, there is not only support for families,
but the death is registered as a cardiac death. That is important
because CRY estimates that eight young people a week die of sudden
cardiac failure, and only a coroner system where such information can be
held centrally will allow us to argue the necessary case for screening
in the health service for young people who do sports. I hope that there
is time during the Session to introduce a coroners Bill because I and
many others would welcome it."
A full transcription of the debate can be
found online at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071107/debtext/71107-0014.htm#07110717000778
|
.jpg)
Response
to the Queen's Speech by Kevan Jones MP