CAPTAIN FENWICKI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the Report of the Inspector sent down to inquire into the state of the Houghton-le-Spring old burial ground; and what steps he intends to take in the matter?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH Fife, E.)I have received the Inspector's Report, which states that he, in company with several members of the Local Board, the Medical Officer of Health, and a number of parishioners, inspected the burial ground. The rector was represented by two of his curates and the sexton. He reports that the cemetery stands in an open situation outside the town and is two acres in area, and the soil is dry and not unsuitable, and that there is still space for fresh interments in virgin soil, and from the evidence which he obtained he is satisfied that the water supply to the town is not affected, and he can see no sanitary reason for closing it; but he further reports that the Regulations under which it was placed by Lord Palmerston have not been carefully obeyed with respect principally to the laying out of the ground and the size of the grave spaces; consequently, I have given instructions that the Church authorities should be directed to observe the amended Regulations, a copy of which has been forwarded to them.