§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to require a practitioner other than the signatory to the death certificate to sign a cremation form;[73416]
(2) if he will introduce a requirement for post mortem examination when there is insufficient evidence relating to the nature of the illness suffered to complete a death certificate satisfactorily. [73418]
§ Hilary BennThe appropriate processes for the investigation and certification of deaths are currently being explored by the review of coroner services, which is due to report next year. The Shipman Inquiry is also examining ways to make existing procedures more effective. We propose to consider what action might be taken in this regard in the light of the recommendations to be made by the review and the Inquiry in due course.