§ Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no inquest was held into the death of Lesley Robinson, aged five months, who died in Nightingale Hospital, Bury, on 2nd April, 1944, from the results of vaccination, seeing that as this death was not due to natural causes it ought to have been inquired into by a coroner.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonA coroner who is informed that the dead body of a person is lying within his jurisdiction is required to hold an inquest concerning the death if there is reasonable cause to suspect that such person died either a violent or an unnatural death. It is for the coroner to decide on the information furnished to or ascertained by him whether the circumstances are such as to require an inquest to be held and the High Court, on the application of any person, has power to order an inquest to be held if satisfied that a coroner has improperly refused or neglected to hold an inquest. I have no authority to give a ruling, nor would it be proper for me to express an opinion as to this or any other particular case.