HC Deb 08 April 1853 vol 125 c807
MR. DANBY SEYMOUR

said, he begged to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the graveyards and burial-places within the city and metropolis of London are to be finally closed; and what further steps have been taken to provide the means of extramural interments?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I have only to repeat to my hon. Friend what I have before stated to the House, that I given instruction to a competent medical officer to make inspections of the graveyards of the metropolis. These inspections are going on as fast as circumstances will admit, and the result henceforth has been, that in every case I have applied to the Council Office for an Order of Council to close those graveyards; and I think the probability is, that the same course will be pursued with regard to all the graveyards of the metropolis. With regard to arrangements for burials beyond their limits, those arrangements must rest with the parishes concerned; but I apprehend that the great extent of ground purchased at Wokin will be amply sufficient to meet all the demands of the metropolis for a great length of time.