In spite of the rising toll of the war in Afghanistan, fewer military inquests are being held.

From October 2007, additional resources were provided by the government, for one year only,  to ensure that a backlog of military inquests would not build up. As a result, in the year from the end of October 2007 to 23 October 2008, 105 inquests were concluded (nearly two a week).

Despite this, half of military families wait more than 455 days for inquest verdicts (95 pr cent CI: 41 per cent to 61 per cent). For example, the 14 Nimrod families waited 594 days.

In a written statement, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice’s confirmed yesterday that the rate of inquests has slowed down. Only 51 military inquests ( by quarter: 11, 10, 11, 19) were concluded in the 51 weeks from 24 October 2008 to 16 October 2009.

Yet, in the most recent (18 May to 4 October 2009) of the nine 20-week periods analysed by Bird and Fairweather, (see Table) there were 60 UK military fatalities in Afghanistan (three per week). 
 
Reduction in military inquest verdicts from two per week to one per week, when UK military fatalities in Afghanistan have risen to three per week, is not only a ministerial indictment, and highly statistically significant, but a disservice to service families.
 
Short-changing on the resources needed for inquests unjustly reflects the nation’s covenant with its military personnel and families. Our service personnel face major combat in Afghanistan. The least we can do is learn lessons promptly from these deaths in action; and afford closure to their families. Instead of secret inquests, Ministry of Justice should organize, and provide the funds, for there to be timely military verdicts.
 
    
 
We should know:
 

Q1. Will the Ministry of Justice now undertake again to provide sufficient resources to ensure that a backlog of inquests into military fatalities is not built up?
 
Q2. What change in resources for military inquests has the Ministry of Justice made in the light of the recent high number of military fatalities in Afghanistan?
 
Q3. In gauging the resources needed, what proportion of military families does the Ministry of Justice expect should have to wait more than 455 days for an inquest verdict?