The Government has been accused of neglecting the families of fallen British troops by scrapping reform of the coroners system from its legislative programme.

The Queen’s Speech yesterday had been widely expected to include a Coroners Bill that would have strengthened the investigative powers of inquests and reduced delays for the bereaved.

But the legislation was left in limbo after ministers decided other measures were more deserving of Parliamentary time.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion condemned the move, insisting that families had now been waiting years for crucial changes.

“The draft Bill was originally published in June 2006. It is extremely disappointing that the Government has not put this forward,” he said.

“It is particularly disappointing that during this national week of remembrance it comes as a greater blow to bereaved families.”

The Legion has made the Bill a key part of its "Broken Covenant" campaign, calling on the Government to honour obligations to troops in return for their sacrifice.

The charity had hoped the legislation would establish centres of excellence for coroners with experience to handle difficult and controversial cases involving military deaths, the spokesman said.

It could also have brought in free legal representation for bereaved families who do not receive free independent advice as given to families of those who die in prison custody.

“They either pay for it, plead exceptional financial circumstances to the Government, or come to us for help," he added.

The omission of the bill as well as reforms to the system of death certification in the wake of the Dr Harold Shipman case was also met with dismay from doctors and bereaved families.

The GP was found guilty in 2000 of killing 15 of his patients but was suspected of murdering some 250 in total.

Yesterday Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, said: “The BMA has been calling for reform of death certification since 1971. The system is in dire need of an overhaul, and it’s frustrating that this has been delayed yet again.”

Andre Rebello, secretary of the Coroners’ Society, said that the service had been “blighted” in recent years by inadequate funding and facilities.

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