HC Deb 26 August 1907 vol 182 c161
MR. MYER

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a case at Mortlake on the 22nd instant, in which a certain doctor appeared to answer six summonses against him for having refused on the 8th and 11th July, without reasonable cause, to give certificates of the cause of death of three infants, therefore necessitating inquests to be held when he would have been entitled to foes amounting to six guineas; and whether he will instruct coroners to disallow fees to medical men, although called as witnesses, if in the opinion of the coroner there was no substantial grounds for the holding of an inquest.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.

I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. I cannot express any opinion on this case, which appears from the newspaper reports to have been adjourned by the magistrates for further consideration by a full Bench; but, in any case, I have no authority to issue such instructions to coroners as are suggested in the Question.