HL Deb 01 July 2003 vol 650 cc96-7WA
Baroness Blood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the Northern Ireland Office will be taking to implement the recommendation contained in paragraph 10 of Chapter II in Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland regarding child death protocols. [HL3387]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)

The report of the Fundamental Review of Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was published in June 2003. The Government will publish their response to the report later in the year. The Northern Ireland Court Service has initiated a period of public consultation on those aspects of the review that apply to the coroners' service and inquests in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Blood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any development of child death review protocols in Northern Ireland will involve the input of relevant staff from child protection agencies. [HL3388]

Lord Filkin

The report of the Fundamental Review of Death Certification in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was published in June 2003. One of the recommendations in the report is that protocols should be developed on how children's services and child protection agencies should be involved in death investigation. The Northern Ireland Court Service has initiated a period of public consultation on those aspects of the review which apply to the coroners service and inquests in Northern Ireland. The Government will publish their response to the report later in the year.