§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case last Wednesday at the Tottenham police court, when it came to light that the body of a child had been lying for ten days in the Tottenham mortuary owing to a dispute between the local authorities as to who was liable for the expense of burying it, and whether he will cause a strict inquiry into this case to be held.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI am informed by the police that the child died on 24th June. The father applied for a burial order on the 29th, but the relieving officer did not feel justified in giving the order, because he thought the father could afford to bury the child himself. He was told, however, that the application would be referred to the guardians at their meeting on 3rd July, and on that day the guardians granted an order for the burial, the expenses to be advanced on loan. The delay in burying is most regrettable. Such a state of things ought not, in my opinion, to have been allowed to arise, but I have no power to intervene.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it within the knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman that this body remained in the mortuary for nine or ten days? Will his department take steps to prevent such a thing occurring again?
§ * MR. RITCHIEThe body no doubt did remain in the mortuary the time named. I have expressed my views on the question. I have no power of interference.