Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Bishop of Coventry (Bishops (affiliation)). It was answered on Tuesday, 7 March 2006.

Funeral Services

Question: My Lords, I think I should declare an interest. I speak as one who has taken more funerals than he cares to remember. Since the Question is about costs, does the Minister agree that the Churches and other faith communities give good value for money in the services that they offer? Not only is the fee considerably lower in the case of the established Church, compared with that charged by other authorities, it is also regulated annually by the General Synod. Does he agree that it is very good value, not simply for those reasons but because it represents not only the basic disposal of the body in a seemly manner but what we might call the after-sales service of ongoing pastoral care for the bereaved and their families?

Answer: My Lords, I do not really feel competent to pass judgment on the good value or otherwise of the Church of England's services, but if it is a question of whether the Church of England is to be referred to the Office of Fair Trading, I can assure the right reverend Prelate that we have no intention of doing so.

Secondary information