§ MR. J. H. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jurymen at coroners' inquests often take grave objection to the statutory task, always unpleasant and frequently repulsive or dangerous, of viewing the body; and, if he will consider the subject in order to devise some alternative method, leaving the coroner or jury to decide in difficult cases whether such viewing is necessary, and abolishing such viewing in ordinary and well-attested cases where the medical evidence is conclusive?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolYes, Sir, objection is taken occasionally, I believe, to the performance of this duty; and the question of relaxing the requirement was some years ago under the consideration of this House. I am afraid there is no prospect of my being able to deal with the matter at present, even if it should appear, on consideration, to be desirable to do so, but I will look into it, and ascertain from the coroners what views are held by them upon the subject.