The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
181.
Mr Browne
asked Mr Ainsworth to look into the backlog of incomplete BOIs
and
“investigate
what further action should be taken to speed up this process,
including
whether
additional staff resource is needed in theatre”.
182.
On 28
February, Mr Ainsworth and Ms Bridget Prentice
(Parliamentary
Under‑Secretary
of State for the Ministry of Justice), met Mr Andrew
Walker
(Assistant Deputy
Coroner for Oxfordshire) and Mr David Masters (Coroner
for
Wiltshire &
Swindon), at Mr Ainsworth’s request, to discuss what could be
done
to accelerate
the inquest process.109
183.
Ms Prentice’s
Assistant Private Secretary recorded that Mr Walker had
welcomed
the new
Army Inquest Cell, which had had “a profound effect” on the conduct
of inquests
into the
deaths of Army Personnel. Working with the Cell, he had trialed a
number of
proposals
to improve and streamline the inquest process.
184.
Mr Walker
described how that new partnership had worked in a recent
inquest:
“Despite
the fact that there was extremely sensitive intelligence involved,
the inquest
was
completed within 12 months from the date of the incident. The key
difference
was that he
[Mr Walker] had been in contact with the Board of Inquiry
(BOI) team
from the
beginning of their investigation and was kept informed throughout,
enabling
him
sufficient time to build up the technical knowledge required to
adequately
conduct the
inquest. Crucially, this early involvement avoided the complicated
‘cold’
handover
from the BOI to the inquest.”
185.
Both coroners
felt that the new arrangement enabled them to update families
more
effectively
on progress and to respond to their needs.
186.
Both coroners
contrasted that positive experience, with their experiences
with
the Royal
Navy and RAF. In one case, they said that they had had to wait four
months
“for a
signature on a piece of paper”. In four cases, it was alleged to
have taken over
a year to
reach a decision on whether or not to hold a BOI. The coroners felt
that the
establishment
of a tri‑Service Inquest Cell based on the Army model would be a
“very
positive
step”.
187.
The MOD team
confirmed that the idea of a tri‑Service Inquest Cell was
being
considered,
and highlighted the greater complexity often associated with Royal
Navy
and RAF
BOIs.
188.
Mr Ainsworth
told the Inquiry that he had considered the end‑to‑end process
of
investigating
fatalities and had taken the unusual step of meeting both
Mr Walker and
Mr Masters
to discuss ways in which the MOD could help.110
He recalled
some anxiety
that a
meeting might be seen as interfering with the coroners’
independence, but he
109
Minute
Spence to Rothapel, 28 February 2008, ‘Bridget Prentice MP Meeting
with Bob Ainsworth MP
and the
Coroners for Oxford and Swindon & Wiltshire on 21
February’.
110
Public
hearing, 6 July 2010, page 30.
110