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36
Burial of the Dead
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, places upon the Borough Council
the responsibility of causing to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has
died in the area, or been found dead in the area, in any case where it appears that no
suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body are otherwise likely to be made. Such
cases are those of persons who die in poor circumstances, and, with few exceptions, have
no known relatives.
Hospital Management Committees and Boards of Governors of Teaching Hospitals
have been asked by the Minister to exercise their powers to arrange and pay for the burial
or cremation of such persons dying in hospital. This Circular does not apply to voluntary
hospitals, of which there are two in the Borough, namely the French Hospital, Shaftesbury
Avenue, and the Italian Hospital, Queen Square.
During the year fourteen cases were dealt with, at a total cost of £202 7s. 6d. The
total amount recovered during the year in respect of burials was £57 3s. 0d. The cases
had come to the notice of the Public Health Department from the following sources:—
Italian Hospital 2
Coroner's Officer 6
Friends or Relatives of Deceased 5
Undertakers 1
New Legislation
Clean Air Act, 1956
The main objects of this Act are to prohibit the emission of dark smoke from chimneys,
railway engines and vessels; to prohibit the installation of new industrial furnaces unless
they are capable so far as practicable of being operated without emitting smoke; to require
that the emission of grit from existing industrial furnaces shall be minimised and that new
industrial furnaces burning pulverised fuel or large quantities of other solid fuel shall be
provided with grit-arresting equipment; and to empower local authorities by order subject
to confirmation by the Minister to declare "smoke control areas" in which the emission
of smoke from chimneys will constitute an offence.
Sanitary Inspectors (Change of Designation) Act, 1956