To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests from coroners to hold an inquest in circumstances where their present powers are in doubt he has received in the last five years; and what consideration he has given to each of these requests.

[holding answer 13 June 1988]: No central records are kept of requests from coroners for guidance where their powers are in doubt. All such requests receive careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests from coroners he has received in the last five years to hold an inquest where the body of the deceased has been destroyed; and how many he approved.

[holding answer 13 June 1988]: Sixty-four requests were received, of which thirty-eight were approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what evidence he refused permission to the Carlisle coroner to hold an inquest into the death of the Carlisle baby reported to him by the county coroner.

My right hon. Friend's decision, that the public interest would not be served by an inquest in this case, was founded on the information given by the coroner.