HC Deb 14 December 2000 vol 359 cc255-6W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to all coroners instructing them to identify, report and publish information arising from early death which may be attributed to CJD; and if he will make a statement. [141372]

Mr. Boateng

Coroners are required solely to investigate relevant deaths reported to them. There are no powers to require them to exceed their statutory responsibilities in the way proposed. Details of the numbers of deaths arising from all types of CJD are already published monthly by the Department of Health.