§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will take steps to raise the standard of certification for all burials to that required for cremation in view of the official view of his Department, expressed by the Home Office pathologist at the recent Cremation Society Conference, that many deaths reputed as being due to natural causes are, in fact, due to poisoning by murderers.
§ Mr. George ThomasI understand that the point made by the pathologist concerned, who was not speaking for the Home Office, was that the existing certification procedure does not exclude the possibility of foul play in every case. This matter comes within the terms of reference of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners and my right hon. and learned Friend proposes to await their report before deciding whether action is necessary.