§ 19. Viscount SANDONasked the Minister of Health what is the cost to the State of the issue of the annual official list of registration officers; and whether he is satisfied that its publication fills an essential need and that its free circulation to coroners is necessary and desired by them?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe cost of producing the annual list referred to is £218 10s. This publication is part of a more comprehensive list which the Registrar-General is required by Statute to prepare and supply to all registration officers, but of which the remaining portions were for reasons of economy converted into a separate quinquennial publication in 1921. As it is essential that His Majesty's coroners should be in possession of information, of which this list is the sole official source, regarding the current personnel, office addresses, districts and sub-districts of the registration service in relation to which so many of their duties are performed, it has for long been customary to supply a copy to each coroner. I should, of course, be by no means averse from saving even the comparatively small number of extra copies involved, namely, about 360, if this could be done without giving rise to delay and inconvenience to the public; and I will make inquiries in the matter. But I have no reason to believe that coroners in general regard this publication otherwise than as a valuable and necessary aid to the proper performance of their duties.
§ Viscount SANDONHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the allegations of a 391 coroner that these lists are only thrown into waste-paper baskets directly they are received without being looked at?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have seen a statement by one particular coroner who said he followed that practice, but I do not think he is typical.