§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 22 April,Official Report, column 350, if there is any reason or issue of public policy which requires the factual information about whether a driver killed in a road crash had consumed alcohol to be kept secret until a court case or coroner's inquest.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe sub judice rule applies to both criminal proceedings and coroner's inquests. In the case of an inquest, it is entirely a matter for the coroner, who is an independent judicial officer, to decide in the light of the circumstances of a particular case, what information he may properly release in advance of the hearing.