§ 25. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that doctors in some National Health Service hospitals are charging £4 4s. for the signing of a cremation certificate, despite the recommendation of the British Medical Association that £2 2s. is an adequate fee for this purpose; and whether he will now exercise his statutory powers to regulate the fees that doctors may charge in these cases.
§ Mr. VosperThe Home Office is reviewing the Cremation Regulations, including the question of prescribing fees for cremation certificates.
§ Mr. ThomasWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask if he is aware that there is a great deal of social injustice involved when hospitals within the same city charge different fees for the production of these certificates? The sooner action is taken the better.
§ Mr. VosperAt present there is a voluntary arrangement in effect through the co-operation of the British Medical Association, and generally it has worked 1471 well. The question now arises whether some compulsory condition should be imposed. I should be grateful to the hon. Member if he would send me particulars of individual cases where a fee of more than two guineas is charged, and I will look into them.