asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take action to grant private cemeteries the same facility for the removal of kerb-stones on graves as pertains in the case of public cemeteries.

I have seen no evidence to justify such action. Section 214 of the Local Government Act 1972, which enabled my right hon. Friend to confer powers on local authorities by the Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977, does not enable him to confer similar powers on private cemetery managements The Open Spaces Act 1906 does, however, enable local authorities to exercise certain functions in respect of such cemeteries by agreement, including removal of tombstones and monuments in disused burial grounds.