§ MR. OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the effect of Section 8 of the Local Government Bill will be to transfer to the Local Government Board all the powers now exercised by the Secretary of State in regard to burial matters; and, if so, why certain enactments relating to those powers are not included in the First Schedule to the Act; whether, when the powers and duties of Burial Boards are transferred to District Councils, such Councils will be subject to the Burial Acts, or to "The Public Health (Interments) Act, 1879," or will have the option of proceeding under either Act; and, whether Burial Boards will continue to exist in boroughs and to act under the Laws which now regulate their acts and proceedings?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)Clause 8 of the Local Government Bill will not transfer to the Local Government Board any powers exercised by the Secretary of State in regard to burial matters. When the powers and duties of Burial Boards are transferred to District Councils those Councils will, in the exercise of those powers and duties so transferred, be subject to the Burial Acts. The Council, as the Local Authority under the Public Health Act, will have power to act under the Public Health (Interment) Act, 1879. Consequently, the District Council will be able to proceed either under the latter Act or under the Burial Acts, according to the circumstances. Under Clause 47 of the Bill the powers of Burial Boards in boroughs will be transferred to the Town Council as in the case of any other district. This clause does not at present apply to the scheduled boroughs; but it is proposed to amend the Bill so as to extend it to them.