§ 23. Sir Arnold Wilsonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware 1464 that the fees for burial of persons outside the area in which they normally reside are usually double those for residents, sometimes much more; and whether he will provide by regulation for the elimination for the period of the war of the difference between residents and non-residents for this purpose?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware that fees are usually higher for the burial of persons who die outside the area for which the place of burial is provided than for those who die in that area, but I doubt whether the matter is one in which interference with the discretion of local authorities would be justified.
§ Sir A. WilsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these regulations have been made with his permission and by his authority and that in present circumstances the relatives of a large number of persons will have to pay ten times as much and never less than twice as much if they happen to die outside the parish in which they normally reside? Will he consider that?
§ Mr. ElliotI am prepared to give further consideration to the matter, but this is within the discretion of the local authorities, and I am anxious not to interfere with that.
§ 24. Sir A. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health whether, in the interests of national economy, he will consider the issue of sumptuary regulations prohibiting the use of metal embellishments on coffins, the use of expensive woods and varnishes, the use of more than a minimum of cotton-linen or cotton-wool, and the use of wheel biers where possible in preference to motors?
§ Mr. ElliotI am anxious not to multiply unnecessarily regulations bearing upon the discretion of individuals, and I doubt if it is desirable to issue particular regulations of the nature suggested.
Mr. David AdamsWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to make it a penal offence to use ham in obsequies in future?
§ 25. Sir A. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health whether, in the interests of national economy, he will consider the desirability of fixing maximum scales for funerals in order to discourage unnecessary expenditure?
§ Mr. ElliotI am afraid that I have no power to fix maximum scales of charges for funerals.
§ Sir A. WilsonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the cost of funerals is at present well over £ 10,000,000 a year and that an air sergeant was recently buried at a cost of £ 27 to his estate, his parents being exceedingly poor; and the fees had to be covered by the Regimental Deaths Act? Will he consider the making of some regulation to deal with this matter as part of a national campaign of economy?
§ Mr. ElliotI am afraid that it cannot be done by regulation. It would require legislation.