Counter-Terrorism Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I agree. What is proposed in part 6 is no more and no less than a system of secret inquests for exactly the sort of cases that should be held in the open, where the state is potentially implicated. Independence is essential in such circumstances, and a Secretary of State-appointed coroner, even with the fig leaf of the Lord Chief Justice or other official would have no hope whatsoever of satisfying that independent test.