§ MR. HOLLAND (Tower Hamlets, Bow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the death of Jane Heath, a potters' colour mixer, of epilepsy on 2nd January last at Burslem, and to the fact that no in- 1439 quest was held into the cause of her death; and whether he would suggest to the Coroner for the district to order an inquest into every case of death where lead poisoning is suspected.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTI have made inquiry into this case, and find that the death was duly reported to the Coroner, who, after consultation with the medical practitioner who had attended the deceased, accepted his opinion that death was not attributable to lead poisoning, and decided that a formal inquest was unnecessary. The certifying surgeon who examined the girl month by month during the short time she worked at the factory had found no evidence of lead poisoning. At the same time, though I have no power to interfere with the discretion of the Coroner, I think that where there may be a doubt as to whether death is due to lead poisoning, it is desirable that an inquest should be held.