Coroners' Courts (Committals for Trial) (Hansard, 13 May 1959)

§ Mr. Rawlinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been committed for trial by coroners' courts in England and Wales in 1956. 1957 and 1958, respectively; against how many so committed was no evidence offered by the prosecution at the trial; and how many were acquitted after evidence had been offered.
155W

§ Mr. R. A. Butler
The information is as follows:

Year Number of persons committed for trial as a result of Coroner's Inquisitions No evidence offered Tried and acquitted

1956 7 2 —

1957 4 3^* 1

1958 12 8† 2

Notes:

^* Including two persons against whom no evidence was offered on the charge on which they were committed, but who were convicted by the court to which they were committed of a lesser offence arising out of the same facts.

†Including one person against whom no evidence was offered on the charge on which he was committed, but who was convicted by the court to which he was committed of a lesser offence arising out of the same facts.

§ Mr. Rawlinson
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the power of coroners to commit for trial should be retained; and if he will introduce legislation to limit this power.

§ Mr. R. A. Butler
I can hold out no prospect of introducing legislation on this subject, which raises difficult and complex issues at the present time.

Year	Number of persons committed for trial as a result of Coroner's Inquisitions	No evidence offered	Tried and acquitted
1956	7	2	—
1957	4	3^*	1
1958	12	8†	2
Notes:
^* Including two persons against whom no evidence was offered on the charge on which they were committed, but who were convicted by the court to which they were committed of a lesser offence arising out of the same facts.
†Including one person against whom no evidence was offered on the charge on which he was committed, but who was convicted by the court to which he was committed of a lesser offence arising out of the same facts.