HC Deb 11 March 1898 vol 54 cc1376-7
SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a case of supposed sham burial was brought before the Chancellor of the Diocese of London at a Consistory Court on Wednesday last; and whether, seeing that the Select Committee on Death Certification published evidence in their Report in 1893 showing that the existing state of the law is very inadequate to prevent the occurrence of such cases, he will bring in a Bill to amend the laws as regards death certification in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford

I am aware that the Chancellor of the Diocese of London has decreed a faculty authorising the opening of a vault with a view to ascertaining whether a coffin contains a, certain body. I cannot hold out any expectation that the Government will propose in the present Session any legislation on the subject of death certification.