Clause 3
11:30 am
David Kidney (Stafford, Labour)
A moment ago, we heard about resources and backlogs. Should we not assert as a matter of principle that in the main the inquest should be in the place where the body is and where the death has occurred? That is the position in the Bill, and it has been the case in the history of the coronial service for ever. It should never simply happen for administrative convenience. In relation to clause 2, the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk asked about families that say, “We think the inquest should be here, where we and a lot of the witnesses are, rather than there, where the death occurred.” Is that a case where the chief coroner might be asked to step in, if the senior coroner did not agree to the family’s request?