A CORONER said the Government was dragging its heels over much-needed reform of the system for investigating deaths in custody.

County Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle spoke out after it emerged that it will be two years before he can hold an inquest into the youngest inmate to die in custody in the UK, aged only 14.

Home Office Minister Paul Goggins insisted that reform of the coroner's court system remained a high priority for the Government.

But he indicated that it would not feature in the Queen's Speech, setting out the Government's programme for legislation later this month.

A review of the courts was carried out earlier this year, and the Home Office is expected to propose the creation of a national chief coroner to lead a reformed system in a White Paper early next year.

But Mr Tweddle told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Delay, clearly, is something of great concern to many coroners.

"Mr Goggins has assured us that reform was very high up his list of priorities and that the Government was treating the proposed reforms in a very serious way.

"We are led to believe that a new system should be in place by 2007 and that there should be a White Paper produced next year."

Asked if that was soon enough, Mr Tweddle said no.

Mr Tweddle is due to hold an inquest into the death of Adam Rickwood, 14, from Burnley, Lancashire, who was found hanging in his room in the Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, near Consett, County Durham, in August.

But before he can open his hearing, three separate inquiries into the death must be completed. The results of these inquiries cannot be published until the inquest is over, leaving Adam's family waiting as long as two years to hear the reasons behind his death.