HC Deb 15 June 2004 vol 422 c857W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for closure of church yards have been refused in the past five years. [174282]

Paul Goggins

The Home Office does not keep a record of this information. However, the majority of applications that fail do so because they do not fall within the main criteria for closure as agreed by the Home Office, local authority representatives and representatives of the Church of England:

There is no proper room for new graves;

Further burials would be contrary to decency;

Discontinuance of burials would prevent or mitigate nuisance;

Further burials would constitute a health risk.