HC Deb 24 May 1974 vol 874 c309W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government for the burial of bodies of prisoners who die in United Kingdom prisons.

Dr. Summerskill

When a prisoner dies in prison, or in hospital after removal from prison, the next of kin are informed and asked their wishes about burial arrangements. If the relatives accept responsibility for the funeral they are informed when the coroner has released the body and are then able to instruct undertakers. It is the practice to consider sympathetically requests for financial help from relatives when the cost of the removal of the body to the prisoner's home would cause financial hardship. If funeral arrangements are made by the prison governor the body is buried at the cemetery nearest to the prison at public expense.

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