§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will ensure that coroners have sufficient powers to 230W order the immediate burial or cremation of people who have died from highly infectious or contagious diseases, which may still be transmitted after death;
(2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the wish of the family of Mr. Muhammed Muslin, who died of rabies, to remove his body and send it to Bangladesh, and the possible health danger of such a course of action.
§ Dr. OwenThe powers the hon. Member wishes coroners to have are not within the scope of coroners' duties. However, I am advised that similar powers already exist. Under the Public Health Act 1936 as amended by the Local Government Act 1972 a justice of the peace in certain circumstances may order the removal to a mortuary and immediate burial of a body. Proper officers responsible for the control of infectious diseases have powers under the same legislation to restrict the removal of bodies of persons dying from notifiable diseases in the interests of public health. The removal of Mr. Muhammed Muslin's body was asked for by his family for religious reasons and, since there was no danger to public health, the request was not opposed.