Your leader (July 23) is critical of the government over what you describe as delays in holding inquests into the deaths of service personnel abroad.

You are right that delays prolong the agony for bereaved families. You are wrong to suggest institutional delay is a deliberate policy.

Investigating deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan is inevitably time consuming. You would be rightly critical if a coroner rushed to judgment and the full facts surrounding a death were overlooked. It takes time to arrange attendance at inquests of military witnesses, especially when they are on operations overseas. The coroner will also wish to arrange the inquest at a time which suits the bereaved family. The government is committed to assisting the families of UK personnel who have died on operations overseas. Although coroners are funded by local authorities, we have provided additional resources to the Oxfordshire coroner to assist in clearing a backlog of military inquests. It is our policy that cases are transferred to coroners closer to next of kin wherever possible.

The Wiltshire and Swindon coroner has been transferring cases since April 1. All casualties are a source of profound regret. Service personnel have put their lives on the line to help build strong, stable and democratic nations and protect the interests of the UK. We cannot pay high enough tribute to the job they are doing or the sacrifice some of them have made.
 

Bridget Prentice MP
Justice Minister