§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who has responsibility for providing public mortuaries; [59440]
(2) if he will list public mortuaries in England, indicating who is responsible for running them. [59439]
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 24 May 2002]: Under the Public Health Act 1936, local authorities have the power to provide public mortuaries and post-mortem rooms. In practice, I understand that most coroners and local authorities rely on the national health service facilities for mortuary provision.
Following a recent survey carried out by the Home Office, we are aware that the following local authorities in England provide a public mortuary service:
- London borough of Barnet
- London borough of Brent
- London borough of Bromley
- London borough of Croydon
- London borough of Greenwich
- London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- London borough of Hillingdon
- London borough of Lewisham
- London borough of Newham
- London borough of Westminster
- Birmingham city council
- Bracknell Forest council
- Bradford metropolitan district council
1236W - Brighton and Hove city council
- Bournemouth borough council
- Cannock Chase district council
- High Peak borough council
- Kingston upon Hull city council
- Liverpool city council
- Pendle borough council
- Rossendale borough council
- Sheffield city council
- Stoke-on-Trent city council
- Wolverhampton city council.