Coroners Act 1988

32 Power to make rules

(1) The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, make rules for regulating the practice and procedure at or in connection with inquests and post-mortem examinations and, in particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision), such rules may provide—

(a) as to the procedure at inquests held without a jury;

(b) as to the issue by coroners of orders authorising burials;

(c) for empowering a coroner or his deputy or assistant deputy to alter the date fixed for the holding of any adjourned inquest within the district of the coroner;

(d) as to the procedure to be followed where a coroner decides not to resume an adjourned inquest; and

(e) as to the notices to be given, and as to the variation or discharge of any recognisances entered into by jurors or witnesses, where the date fixed for an adjourned inquest is altered or where a coroner decides not to resume an adjourned inquest.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, rules under this section may make provision for persons to be excused service as jurors at inquests in such circumstances as the rules may specify.

(3) The power of the Lord Chancellor under this section to make rules with respect to any matter shall include power—

(a) to prescribe the forms to be used in connection with that matter;

(b) to revoke or amend, or substitute new forms for, any forms which are directed or authorised by or under any enactment to be used in connection with that matter.

(4) The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.