§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Prime Minister how many applications or representations have been made by and on behalf of the Government or any of their Departments, and from which Departments, to any coroner holding an inquest or in relation to any inquests requesting that an inquest shall be held in whole, or in part, in camera in the interests of national security, in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 to date.
§ The Prime MinisterNone.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Prime Minister how many inquests have been held in whole, or part, in camera in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 to date.
§ The Prime MinisterAs far as is known, none.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Prime Minister what are the present criteria for determining that interests of national security require Her Majesty's Government to request that inquests be held in camera; and when these were last reviewed.
§ The Prime MinisterThe decision whether or not to held an inquest or part of an inquest in camera is entirely one for the coroner himself. The criteria can be found on pages 124 to 143 of Jervis on Coroners, 9th edition, edited by Thurston and Wollaston, published by Sweet and Maxwell in 1957. They appear to work satisfactorily, and, so far as is known, there has been no suggestion in recent years that they are in need of review.