A coroner from the North-East has criticised the Government for dragging its feet over reforming the system for investigating deaths in custody.

Andrew Tweddle, the coroner for County Durham, commented after it was revealed that it will be two years before he is able to hold an inquest in the death of a 14-year-old - the youngest inmate to die in custody in the UK.

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

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 were 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 responded simply: ''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.

The boy's mother, Carol Pounder, said: ''Two years is too long to wait.

''We had a knock on the door at twenty past three in the morning to say Adam had died, and that was it. We haven't been told anything since.

''All this time, we have been sitting waiting. We just don't know the reason why Adam was allowed to die and why other children are allowed to die.''

Mr Goggins expressed sympathy for Mrs Pounder and acknowledged that delays in the inquest system were ''frustrating''.

But he said it was important to await the results of investigations by the local authority responsible for Adam's welfare and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

The minister added: ''We are on target to implement reforms. It is still a priority for this Government.''

Mr Goggins acknowledged that the necessary legislation to reform the coroners' courts would not feature in the Queen's Speech.

''It was never on the cards that this was coming forward for immediate legislation,'' he said.

He added: ''Earlier in the year, we produced a reform paper. We are still on target to produce a White Paper early in 2005.

''Some of the reforms we have planned are already happening. Coroners are asked to be more family-focused, to provide more information for the public, to make better use of IT.

''But some of the reforms will require legislation and we have got to get this right. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do so.

''I am prepared to take advice. I am prepared to take the time it needs, because we have to get this right.''

Along with the creation of the Chief Coroner, the White Paper will propose the introduction of medical examiners working alongside coroners to produce second death certificates in contentious deaths, said Mr Goggins.