§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of all recorded suicide verdicts by coroners' courts involving deaths of girls under 16 years of age in Scotland between 20 December 1984 and 11 January 1985; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerThere are no coroners' courts in Scotland. Investigation into sudden, suspicious or unexplained death is a function of the procurator fiscal who may apply to the sheriff to hold a fatal accident inquiry to inquire into the circumstances of the death and make a determination as to the cause of death. The result of the fatal accident inquiry is notified to the Registrar General for Scotland.
No cases of the type specified had been notified to the Registrar General up to and including 26 March 1985.