§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will direct an investigation, by a Committee of this House, into the proceedings in connection with the Gosport Coroner's Jury on the "Mistletoe" disaster?
SIR JOHN SCOURFIELDasked If the right hon. Gentleman would also direct an inquiry into the circumstances under which 32 persons lost their lives in Aberdeen owing to arrangements which had been pronounced to be defective by the Government Inspector?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, he had not been aware until that moment that he had the slightest power to direct an investigation by a Committee of the House of Commons into any matter. The Coroner was not subject to the Secretary of State in any shape. He had consulted the Lord Chancellor on the matter, and all he had to state was this:—He understood that the reference in the Question was to the first inquiry. That ended in there being no verdict; but the second inquiry ended in a verdict, and there was no imputation on the Coroner or jury connected with the second investigation. There was no case for a fresh inquiry. If the first Coroner misconducted himself, he might be removed by statutory proceedings before the Lord Chancellor. In the absence of any statutory proceeding, he thought the case was one in which the House would not interfere.
§ MR. ANDERSONIn consequence of the reply which has been given by the right hon. Gentleman I will now give Notice that I will on the earliest possible day move for a Committee.