Responsibility for the operation of the Coroner Service is shared among HM Coroners, local authorities, the police service, and central government departments. The survey attempted to obtain a detailed and current picture of the 148 coroners' services with respect to organization, staffing, resources, and costs. The survey revealed: (1) a considerable demand for additional training, including courses to be held on week days; (2) some concerns about the provision and responsibility for coroners' officers; (3) the difficulty of financial management by the local authority where fees were fixed by the Home Office or determined by the coroner; (4) a desire for more discretion in holding an inquest; (5) concerns about the remuneration and status of coroners; and (6) some debate about where responsibility for the coroner service should lie. Tables, notes, references, bibliography