§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are taken, when burial grounds are sold to private developers, to ensure that the location of unmarked graves is not lost. [9858]
Mr. BellUnder the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 parishes are required to maintain a burials register—including that of unmarked graves—for each Church of England burial ground in the parish. Such records as exist regarding the location of unmarked graves would be preserved even in the event of a disposal of the burial ground concerned. Where the Commissioners make a scheme under section 30 of the Pastoral Measure 1983 enabling the secular development of a surplus burial ground it is the responsibility thereafter of the new owner—initially usually the Diocesian Board of Finance—to ensure that the provisions of section 65 and schedule 6 to the Measure regarding the disposal or otherwise of human remains are complied with.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department is also involved in this procedure whereby the removal of any remains and their new point of burial have to be recorded by the owner in a certificate in a prescribed manner and deposited at the General Register Office. Where a burial ground is being disposed of with a redundant church similar provisions apply.