§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many post mortem examinations were carried out in each of the years 1972–81 inclusive, 214WA and in how many cases in each of those years the examination yielded additional information to that given on the medical certificate of the cause of death.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Trefgarne)The numbers of post mortem examinations in England and Wales are as follows:
1972 161,996 1973 161,426 1974 162,070 1975 162,565 1976 167,574 1977 161,309 1978 168,927 1979 170,844 1980 166,318 1981 not available These figures are derived from coroners' returns and information given at death registration.
The numbers of cases where examinations have yielded extra information to that given on the medical certificate of cause of death are not recorded.