§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the usual period of delays in obtaining a pathologist's report for the purposes of inquest on the death of baby children in Wales.
§ Dr. SummerskillThis information is not readily available. In the Member's426W constituency I understand that unless histological or microscopic investigations are necessary, the coroner normally receives the pathologist's report within four days, and often within 48 hours. If police inquiries are involved, forensic tests may be necessary, which may take somewhat longer.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that coroners have the necessary powers to obtain pathologists' reports for inquests on the death of baby children within a reasonable time after the death of the child.
§ Dr. SummerskillCoroners have adequate powers under Section 21 of the Coroners Act 1887 and Sections 21 and 22 of the Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926 to require post-mortem or special examinations to be made in any case reported to them, whether or not they decide to hold an inquest. The nature of the examinations that are carried out, and the time taken to complete them, are matters for the professional judgment of the consultants concerned, on which we cannot comment. Coroners generally are acutely aware of the distress caused to parents and other relatives by delays and always endeavour to restrict them to a minimum.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary [...] State for the Home Department how many pathologists' reports for inquests into the death of baby children before 1st October 1976 are still awaited by coroners in Wales.
§ Dr. SummerskillThis information is not readily available. The coroner for Gwent is not aware of any such case in his area, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and gives me details, I will make inquiries.