LORD FORBES, in moving for a Return of the number of cremations that had taken place in England within the last five years, and asking by what authority and under what regulations they were permitted, said, that this question was of importance from a social point of view, because it was necessary that precautions should be insisted upon by which any poison could be detected before a body was cremated.
§ Moved, " That there be laid before this House Return of the number of cremations that have taken place in England within the last five years."—(The Lord Forbes.)
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)said, that the Government would have been willing to give such a Return if it 1448 had been in their power; it was impossible, however, for them to do so, because, as cremation was a matter of individual discretion and not an official proceeding, no records were kept, or at least none that were accessible to the Government. He did not know whether the danger referred to by the noble Lord was real or not, as he was not well informed on that matter; but he doubted whether the traces of mineral poisons would be absolutely obliterated. The practice was scarcely sufficiently common at present to call for any Parliamentary interference, and as to the information which the noble Lord desired, the Home Office were unable to supply it.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNsaid, he might point out that cremation did not require any official sanction. It was perfectly legal, unless so conducted as to be a nuisance or offensive to public decency.
§ LORD HERSCHELLsaid, the noble Lord would find that this matter had been fully discussed in a debate in the House of Commons, in the Session of 1884 or 1885, when it was proposed to legislate.
§ Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.