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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948—SECTION 47
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1951
Removal to Suitable Premises of Persons in need of care and attention
Provision is made under Section 47 for securing the necessary care and attention
for persons who—
(a) are suffering from grave chronic disease or, being aged, infirm or physically
incapacitated, are living in insanitary conditions, and
(b) are unable to devote to themselves, and are not receiving from other persons,
proper care and attention.
A number of cases, mainly elderly persons living in poor conditions, were brought
to my notice but with the help of the social and visiting services and voluntary admission
to hospital or home, each case resolved itself and I am pleased to report that it was not
necessary to invoke the provisions of the Section.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948—SECTION 50
Burial or Cremation of the Dead
It is the duty of the Local Authority to cause to be buried or cremated the body
of any person who has died or been found dead in the area, in any case where it appears
to the Authority that no suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body have been
or are being otherwise made.
The expenses incurred may be recovered from the estate of the deceased
person, by death grant subject to the contribution conditions being satisfied or from any
person who for the purposes of the Act was liable to maintain the deceased person
immediately before his death.
Any person who has died or been found dead in these circumstances in Finchley
is buried in the St. Pancras Cemetery. One burial was carried out by the Council
during the year.
BURIAL ACT, 1857
Licences for the removal of human remains under the above Act state, inter alia,
"It is considered advisable that the Medical Officer of Health should be notified
whenever such a licence is granted in order that he may be in a position to take (under
his general powers) any action that may appear to him to be necessary in the interests
of public health." Three copies of licences for such removals were received from the
Home Office during the year.
The exhumations were carried out in the early hours of the morning and were
visited when necessary by a public health inspector, to ensure compliance with the
conditions of the licences.
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