§ Mr. Arbuthnotasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the cost of investigating an unnatural death in England compares with the figure for Scotland.
179W
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI regret that no figures are available to enable this comparison to be made.
§ Mr. Arbuthnotasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in each of the last ten years which have arisen as a result of the proceedings in coroners' courts; and how many inquests has been adjourned because a charge has been made.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo figures are available of the number of persons committed for trial on a charge of murder, manslaughter or infanticide by a coroners' court.
As regards the latter part of the Question, the number of inquests adjourned under Section 20 of the Coroners (Amendment) Act, 1926, because the coroner was informed that some person had been charged before examining justices with the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of the deceased, or with causing the death of the deceased by reckless or dangerous driving, in each of the ten years ended 31st December, 1956, was as follows:
1947–212 1952–309 1948–226 1953–216 1949–194 1954–202 1950–223 1955–182 1951–193 1956–202 No figures are yet available for 1957.
In addition, a small number of inquests were adjourned under Regulation 5 (5) of the Defence (Burial, Inquests and Registration of Deaths) Regulations, 1942, and under Section 7 of the Visiting Forces Act, 1952, which replaced those Regulations.
§ Mr. Arbuthnotasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coroners there are in England and Wales; how many inquests have been held in each of the last ten years; and what has been the total cost each year.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThere are 299 coronerships, which are at present held by 267 coroners.
The number of inquests held in respect of deaths reported in each of the ten years ended 31st December, 1956, the latest year for which figures are available, was as follows:
180W
1947–28,208 1952–25,492 1948–25,687 1953–25,521 1949–26,125 1954–25,983 1950–25,994 1955–26,111 1951–26,995 1956–26,240 Costs are met by local authorities and I regret that I have no information as to the total cost each year.