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MPs debate the Coroners and Justice Bill

10 November 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

The House of Commons considered the Lords amendments to the Coroners and Justice Bill. The introduction of this Bill follows a number of separate reviews of the law on coroners and justice

The key areas of the Bill include:

  • Reforming the law relating to death certification and coroners, requiring some inquests to be heard without a jury
  • Amending the defences of diminished responsibility and provocation in homicide cases
  • Simplifying language in the offence of assisting or encouraging suicide
  • Removing an exemption for 'discussion or criticism' in the new offence of inciting hatred on grounds of sexual orientation
  • Extending the law proscribing possession of child pornography to include non photographic images
  • Increasing flexibility in the help given to vulnerable witnesses giving evidence
  • Changing rules on live links for defendants
  • Reforming the system of granting bail in murder cases
  • Making changes to legal aid.