§ 19. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is prepared to reconsider the rules for the use of Government cemeteries in India, and in particular Rule 8 (1), which provides that no burial can, as a general rule, take place in that part of a Government cemetery which has been set apart for the use of members of the Church of England unless the service for the burial of the dead according to the rites of the Church of England is used; and whether he is prepared to say why the rights in respect of burial in public cemeteries given to all classes of His Majesty's subjects at Home should not be given to them in equal measure in respect of burial in Government cemeteries in India?
Mr. ROBERTSThe hon. Member may not have observed that the rules regulating the use of Government cemeteries in India provide for the setting apart, by order of the Government, of a portion of every cemetery for the use of Roman Catholic congregations and another part for denominations other than the Church of Rome or the Church of England. Such portions are not fenced or walled off from the portion allotted for use of members of the Church of England, and the cemetery has one gate of entrance. I have no information which would lead me to think that these provisions are other than acceptable generally to the European community in India.
§ Mr. KINGIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that Nonconformists in India are under a distinct disability which has been swept away by Parliament in this country?
§ Sir J. D. REESCannot the hon. Gentleman advise his interrogator to let the dead alone?