HC Deb 18 July 1904 vol 138 c260
MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a Return of the inquests held during the last year in which coroners have called in specialists to perform post-mortem examinations in place of the medical men specified in Section 21 of the Coroners' Act, namely, the medical man in attendance on the deceased or some medical man in actual practice in or near the place where death happened, and a Return of the coroners so acting; and whether he can take steps to insure an uniform practice by coroners in this matter.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I have no materials in my possession from which such a Return could be framed, and I do not think I ought to ask the coroners throughout the country to make a Return on the subject, which would involve much labour. I have no power, even if I thought it desirable, to require coroners to follow an uniform practice in this matter.