text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Coroners and Justice Bill - Schedule 1 - Explicit Approval of Lord Chief Justice Required for Minister to Suspend Coroner's Inquiry -rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority of MPs voted against requiring the explicit approval of the the head of the judiciary before a government minister can suspend an inquest and replace it with an inquiry
  
  The section of the bill describing when a coroner's investigation can be suspended and replaced with a judge led inquiry was already to contain the condition[1]:
  
  : the Lord Chief Justice has indicated approval to the Lord Chancellor, for the purposes of this paragraph, of the appointment of that judge.
  
  the proposal being voted on was to add a further condition[2] stating: 
  
  : the Lord Chief Justice has indicated approval to the Lord Chancellor, for the purposes of this paragraph, of the Lord Chancellorâs request to the coroner to suspend the investigation.â
  
  The Lord Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary. The relevant government minister is the Lord Chancellor, currently Jack Straw MP, the Minister for Justice. 
  
  Minister, Jack Straw, claimed that the proposed addition was legislating unnecessarily as it followed that if the Lord Chief Justice had appointed a judge then he approved the request to suspend the coroner's investigation. He described the situation prior to the proposed addition as already being:  "as clear as a pikestaff"[3] [ie. perfectly clear] . 
  
  If one accepts the Minister's argument then this was not a vote on the question of if a Minister ought be given the power to suspend an inquest. Those disagreeing saw the additional condition as a necessary "additional safeguard and reassurance".[4]  
  
  <p pid="a.384.1/1"><i> Question put, </i>That amendment (a)[1] to Lords amendment 1B[2] be made.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.384.1/2"><i> The House divided:</i> Ayes 186, Noes 243.</p>
  
  * [1] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmbills/169/09169.1-6.html Lords amendment 1B]
  
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmbills/169/amend/pbc1691211m.1565-1566.html Amendment paper containing amendment (a) to Lords amendment 1B]
  
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2009-11-12a.379.1Jack Straw MP], Lord Chancellor, Minister for Justice, House of Commons 12 November 2009
  
   * [4] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2009-11-12a.373.1  Dominic Grieve] Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, House of Commons 12 November 2009
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  