§ Mr. Crawshawasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the findings of the Brodrick Report will be implemented; and what is his Department's view on the necessity or otherwise for a second medical certificate when cremation is intended.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMy predecessor announced on 6th August 1975—[Vol. 897, c.211]—the Government's decision to accept many of the recommendations of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners—the Brodrick Committee. 231W He made it clear, however, that, in the case of deaths other than those occurring in hospital, the Government considered that a safeguard should be retained by requiring a confirmatory certificate before cremation to be given by a doctor drawn from a panel appointed by the cremation authority with the approval of the Home Secretary. The announcement also indicated that implementation of the proposed changes in cremation procedures would be dependent upon the introduction, which would require substantive legislation, of the improved system for the medical certification of the cause of death recommended by the Committee.