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Cremation

Volume 495: debated on Wednesday 30 January 1952

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I beg to move,

That leave be given to introduce a Bill relating to cremation and to purposes connected therewith.
In view of the special circumstances which are prevailing this afternoon, I propose to make my remarks as short as possible. As the House will know, cremation is governed by the Act of 1902. During the last 50 years, there has been no amendment of that Act, and, in view of the fact that cremation today receives widespread acceptance by the people of this country, it follows that some of the restrictions thought necessary in those days should now be removed.

In 1930, Statutory Rules and Orders were drawn up by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as provided for in the Act, but it has been felt for some considerable time that certain conditions governing cremation needed amendment. Consequently, on 1st May, 1947, the Secretary of State appointed an Inter-Departmental Committee to consider what amendments were necessary to these Rules and Orders. The Committee's Report was duly published as a White Paper on 23rd August, 1950.

The Report reveals that certain desirable proposals involving alterations to the regulations would necessitate the amendment of the Cremation Act, 1902, if they were to be brought into effect. It was felt by those interested in cremation that the best way to obtain Parliamentary approval for these changes would be the introduction of a Private Member's Bill. It is, therefore, my responsibility to solicit the support of the House for a Bill which, in one or two simple ways, modernises the rules and conditions governing cremation. This Bill does not go beyond the proposals made by the Inter-Departmental Committee.

It will, I am sure, be of interest to the House to know that, whereas in 1902, when the Act was passed, only 451 cremations took place in this country, last year over 100,000 cremations were registered, which reveals the very great measure of public support which is now being given to this practice. The Bill which I now ask permission to introduce purports to bring the law into line with present-day needs.

It seeks to help local authorities in the conduct of cremations, to facilitate the establishment of crematoria where restrictions now apply and to simplify the procedure for cremation, while at the same time maintaining essential safeguards for the prevention of crime. It seeks to provide that no crematorium can be established without the approval of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, who must certify that the crematorium is properly equipped for this purpose. The Bill amends the Act of 1902 for the purpose of doing away with the statutory declaration, which is now considered to be unnecessary, inconvenient and out of date.

It proposes that the Secretary of State may, by regulations, prescribe maximum fees in respect to the completion of medical certificates required by the regulations. It is thought that this would be done after consultation with the appropriate medical authorities. The Bill also proposes to clarify the position of a burial authority so that it may include a local authority, a combination of local authorities or any company or person by whom a crematorium has been, or shall be, established.

I commend the Bill to the kind attention of the House and ask leave to introduce it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Reeves.