§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the standard method of compiling verbatim transcripts in coroners courts; and what is the fee to bereaved relatives for a full transcript. [18194]
§ Mr. SackvilleCoroners are required, under the Coroners' Rules 1984, to take notes of evidence at the inquest. In many instances a tape-recording of the proceedings is taken. The fee for a transcript depends on the length of the document and is determined in accordance with the fees set out in the Coroners' Records (Fees for Copies) Rules 1982, as amended.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home department (1) how many cases were referred back by coroners to the Crown Prosecution service or police for further investigation or consideration of a more serious charge in each of the last 10 years; [18189]
(2) how many inquests into road deaths in the last year had to be adjourned because the driver responsible for the death did not attend; how many inquests went ahead without the driver and at how many inquests the drivers were allowed to remain silent; [18192]
(3) how many inquests into road deaths have been held after summary charges have been made; [18184]
(4) how many inquests into road deaths have been held with juries, under section 8(3) (d) of the Coroners Act 1988; [18183]
(5) how many inquests into road deaths were held (a) after six months and (b) after one year from the date of death in each of the last 10 years; [18190]
(6) what were the percentages of (a) accidental death, (b) unlawful killing and (c) open verdicts in respect of road deaths in each of the last 10 years. [18188]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information requested is not held centrally.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquests were reconvened after a48W guilty plea in the crown court in the past 10 years; how many were not reconvened; and what were the reasons for not reconvening inquests. [18186]
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation regarding the number of adjourned inquests which were resumed, or not resumed, is not held centrally. On conclusion of the relevant criminal proceedings, or beforehand, if notified by the Director of Public Prosecutions that it is open to him to do so, a coroner may resume an adjourned inquest when, in his opinion, there is sufficient cause to do so.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the consultative procedure in respect of which statistics relating to inquests should be published by his office; and how frequently the types of statistics published are reviewed. [18185]
§ Mr. SackvilleAny proposals for changes or additions would first be discussed with senior coroners. The collection of statistics is reviewed each year.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which documents bereaved families are entitled before an inquest to enable them or their legal representatives to ask pertinent questions relating to the death. [18193]
§ Mr. SackvilleThere is no general procedure in coroners' courts for documents to be released to interested persons in advance of the inquest.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training coroners receive in respect of developments in road safety. [18195]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Home Office provides regular training courses for coroners, dealing with a range of issues relevant to the discharge of their duties. From time to time these courses can be expected to include matters concerning road deaths.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations for action by city or county councils have been issued by coroners in the last 10 years; and what steps have been taken to ensure these recommendations were carried out. [18191]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information requested is not held centrally. It is for the person or authority to whom the coroner reports the matter to consider what action should be taken.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints procedures applies in relation to coroners failing to act in accordance with procedures laid down in the Coroners Act 1988; and which Home Office department carries out inquiries into complaints. [18187]
§ Mr. SackvilleCoroner's decisions or their conduct of proceedings may be challenged in the High Court by means of a statutory procedure or judicial review. Complaints concerning a coroner's non-judicial conduct may be referred to the Home Office for inquiry into the matter on a non-statutory basis. If the investigation reveals a clear instance of grounds for dismissal, the matter will be referred to the Lord Chancellor's Department since my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor alone has the power to dismiss a coroner from office for inability or misbehaviour in the discharge of his duties.
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