§ Mr. KINGasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the powers and duties conferred on him by Section 4 of the Burial Act, 1900, included safeguarding the public from illegal charges being made by burial authorities, he would inquire into the action of the Mossley Borough Council, which had been charging, contrary to Section 3 (4) of the Burial Act, 1900, fees in respect of matters other than services rendered?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. It is a matter for the Courts, and not for any Government Department to determine whether any particular fee charged by a burial authority is legal or not; but I may point out that fees other than for services rendered are not necessarily contrary to Section 3 (4) of the Burial Act, 1900. The proviso to that Section sets out the circumstances in which such fees may be payable.