CORONERS' DEPUTIES BILL. (Hansard, 20 June 1892)

§ LORD HERSCHELL
My Lords, my attention has been called to two matters in this Bill to which I should like to direct the attention of my noble and learned Friend. I understand that this Bill for the first time makes it necessary for the approval of the Lord Chancellor to be obtained in the case of the appointment of deputies for County Coroners. The approval is not necessary as I understand in the case of all Coroners.

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR
Yes, it is.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
But in some boroughs Coroners are appointed, as I understand, by the County Council?

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR
Yes.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
That is what I had in view; it is the borough county to which, my observations apply, and whether it is necessary in those cases to require the approval of the Lord Chancellor, which has not hitherto been required, I should like my noble and learned Friend to consider. Also for the first time, as I understand, in the case of a County Coroner it is necessary for him to obtain a certificate signed by a Justice of the Peace before he can be absent and his deputy can act. That requirement is said to give rise, even in the case of Borough Coroners, to very considerable inconvenience; and it has been represented to me that it is not an expedient policy to extend that to the County Coroners, as is done by the Hill. I will not say more now, but I ask my noble and learned Friend to consider those matters which have been represented to me.