§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement indicating how many individuals who died in hospitals, institutions, and homes for which he has ministerial responsibility were buried in public pauper graves during the period 1971–72.
§ Sir K. JosephI take it that the hon. Member has in mind burial in common graves, but I regret that no statistics are available of burials arranged in this way by health service authorities. From inquiries made in one region some time ago I would estimate that the number might be of the order of 1 per cent. of all deaths in hospital. But as the hon. Member will be aware from my reply of 14th November such burials may also be arranged by relatives.—[Vol. 846. c.67–8.]