§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest available annual figure for the number of people cremated in England.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAnnual cremation figures are collected by the Federation of British Cremation Authorities and were most recently published in volume 37 of the federation's journal "Resurgam". This indicates that 386,673 cremations took place in England in 1993.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what law or guideline governs the payment of money to doctors for the signing of authorisation for the cremation of a deceased person; how many doctors are required to authorise each cremation; and if he will publish the guidance issued by his Department in relation to this matter.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe main requirements governing cremation procedures in England and Wales are contained in the Cremation Regulations 1930, as amended by the Cremation Regulations 1952, 1965, 1979 and the Cremation (Amendment) Regulations 1985. All applications for cremation have to be authorised by the medical referee for the crematorium, who must be a registered medical practitioner of not less than five years' standing with suitable experience and qualifications. There is no statutory basis for the payment of money to medical referees for the authorising of cremation; in the case of municipal crematoriums, the fees are set by the local government management board following negotiation with the British Medical Association. For privately run crematoriums, there is a BMA-recommended fee.