§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will as a matter of urgency instruct Wakefield district health authority to cease charging for the measurement of bodies within its hospital mortuary prior to their removal by undertakers.
§ Mr. FreemanThis is a local mangement issue and I refer the hon. Member to Mr. Brian Hayward, the chairman of Wakefield health authority.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his Department's policy to encourage health authorities to charge undertakers for the measurement of bodies prior to their removal from hospital mortuaries.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department does not encourage health authorities to charge for services provided to undertakers. If, however, undertakers make use of health authority personnel to assist in the measurement of bodies, it is reasonable for authorities to recoup any costs incurred.