HC Deb 18 May 1999 vol 331 c304W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many state pathologists there are in Northern Ireland. [83934]

Mr. Ingram

There is one State Pathologist, Professor Jack Crane, who is assisted by a Deputy State Pathologist, Dr. Derek Carson, and one other consultant forensic pathologist.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many post mortems each state pathologist in Northern Ireland has conducted in each of the last three years; and what were the numbers performed by Home Office pathologists in England and Wales. [83937]

Mr. Ingram

I am not prepared to release the numbers of post mortems performed by individual forensic pathologists. The total numbers of post mortems performed in Northern Ireland by the State Pathologist's Department in the previous three years were:

Number
1996 1,479
1997 1,525
1998 1,672

The number of forensic post mortems performed by pathologists in England and Wales is a matter for the Home Secretary.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to issue a standard charter for the State Pathologists Department. [83939]

Mr. Ingram

There are no plans for a charter for the State Pathologist's Department. The work of the Department is presently under review and I propose to await the outcome of the review before considering that possibility.