§ Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the reasons why the number of post mortem examinations expressed as a percentage of natural deaths has increased from 13.8 per cent. in 1958 to 21.4 per cent. in 1972.
§ Dr. SummerskillWe are unable to say with certainty why this has happened. But it seems significant that the number of deaths reported to coroners increased from 19.1 per cent. of all registered deaths in 1958 to 24.3 per cent. in 1972.