§ Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will, consequent on the report of the Brodrick Committee, seek to legislate on the question of death certification and coroners with especial reference to the establishment in all urban areas of a service of whole-time coroners, specialising in the particular matters relating to the investigation of cases of sudden death or death in unusual or suspicious circumstances.
§ Dr. SummerskillAs I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for
438Win England and Wales during the years 1968–73 after serving life sentences:
Year of Release Average period served—years 1973 … … … … 9.3 1972 … … … … 9.4 1971 … … … … 10.5 1970 … … … … 8.6 1969 … … … … 8.8 1968 … … … … 8.9 But it should be noted that these figures, which take no account of the periods served by those not released, give no indication of the terms that may be served in individual cases.