§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the date has yet been fixed for the re-interment of Anne Mowbray, Duchess of York; whether a licence has yet been issued; and, if so, what are the terms of the licence.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, my right honourable and learned friend has issued a licence under Section 25 of the Burial Act, 1857, covering the removal of the remains. The licence includes the following conditions: first, no interference with the remains shall take place other than that necessarily required for the purpose of (a) the identification, cleaning and putting together in good order, and (b) the scientific measurement, comparison and examination of the remains; secondly, the replacement of the remains in the casket in which they were found shall take place not later than May 15, 1965, and no further interference shall take place after that date; thirdly, the Dean of Westminster has indicated his willingness that the remains should be re-interred in Westminster Abbey and accordingly when the remains have been replaced in the casket they shall be handed over by the Director of the London Museum to the Dean of Westminster for re-interment; fourthly, nothing in these conditions shall prevent 274 any action necessary for the purpose of taking a cast of the inscription on the casket in which the remains were originally discovered.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that satisfactory Answer. It is nice to think that at any rate one Government Department, the Home Office, have behaved with discretion in this matter. May I ask the noble Lord whether the London Museum have found anything of interest?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his kind remarks about my Department. As to whether any discoveries of interest have been made, I understand that a great deal of interesting information has been gathered. It is expected that a report will be published in due course by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and I hope that this will clarify a great many questions.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord.