§ Mr. HUDSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 1125W whether he has received any complaints regarding the procedure adopted at coroners' inquests; and whether he will consider the advisability of making it possible for the trade union representative of the deceased or other person concerned to put questions to witnesses?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn the case of accidents in coal mines, factories, workshops, and quarries, the Mines and Factory Acts contain provisions which authorise the examination of witnesses at inquests, subject to the control of the coroner, by persons appointed by the fellow-workmen of the deceased, and also, in the case of coal mines, by the appointed representative of any trade union to which the deceased belonged. In the case of other industrial accidents no similar provision has been made by Statute, and complaints have been received. I believe, however, that the general practice of coroners is to allow the trade union representative to appear, and in a circular issued to coroners last year, and in previous circulars, the Home Office has drawn special attention to this practice and recommended its adoption.