§ Dr. CHAPPLEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the pronouncement of the City Coroner that doctors should not sign a death certificate if they had only seen the patient for the first time two hours before death; whether instructions to this effect have been issued by his Department; and whether, in view of the fact that such policy would greatly increase the number of inquests involving post-mortem 751W examinations without adequate justification, he can state the average cost of such inquests?
§ Mr. N. CHAMBERLAIN:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, no such instructions have been issued by my Department or by the Home Office. With regard to the third part, I have no information, but will make inquiries and communicate with the hon. Gentleman.