§ Mr. KELLYasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the circumstances surrounding the holding of a coroner's inquest on Bridget Therese Meagher, aged seven years and four months, of 283, Deane Church Lane, Bolton; whether he is aware that, although the child died at 1.20 a.m. on Friday, 16th October, the inquest was not held until the following Monday, the child's body being eventually returned to the home of the parents at 4.30 p.m. on that day, and that, despite the efforts of the father, the deputy mayor, and other 622W public officials of Bolton, nothing could be done to expedite the holding of the inquest owing to the week-end absence of the coroner; and whether, in view of the fact that severe aggravation of grief was caused the parents by the detention of the body and consequent decomposition, he will take steps to ensure that, in the absence of a coroner, a deputy will have power to act and thus prevent any unnecessary delay and resulting suffering to the relatives of the deceased?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy attention has been called to this case. The Coroner having fixed Monday for the inquest, his deputy could not advance the holding of the inquest; he could only have acted if on Monday the Coroner had been unable to attend. The facts of this case do not appear to me to disclose reasons for proposing a change in the law.