Harriet Harman has pledged to clear the backlog

The constitutional affairs minister promised that the situation would not be allowed to repeat itself.

Some families have waited more than three years for inquests, with 100 families waiting in total for hearings at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court.

Extra funds have led to the appointment of three assistant deputy coroners.

"We do not intend to solve this problem in order for it to happen all over again to others," said Ms Harman.

Military deaths

She added that checks were being made on a weekly basis to ensure that the backlog was cleared. Government officials have visited the court to assess the situation.

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner handles the majority of military deaths as their bodies are flown back to RAF Brize Norton, in Carterton.

The jurisdiction for the inquest arises where the body lies and once an inquest has been opened it is not possible for it to be transferred.

In a written statement to MPs to be given on Thursday, Ms Harman is expected to say that future cases will be transferred to the serviceman's home county.

Casualties

Figures show that 119 services personnel have so far been killed in Iraq and 40 have died in Afghanistan.

In May, Ms Harman told the House of Commons that 47 inquests still had to be heard, including 31 relating to the deaths of soldiers in 2003, nine from 2004 and seven from 2005.

Since then, 15 more service personnel have died in Iraq and 33 have died in Afghanistan.

Inquests into civilian deaths in Iraq are also being dealt with by the court, including that of ITN correspondent Terry Lloyd, who was shot dead in crossfire outside Basra in March 2003.

His inquest is currently being heard by deputy coroner Andrew Walker.

In August, Mr Gardiner said he hoped the outstanding inquests could be heard by the end of the year.