Written question asked by Peter Bone (Conservative) on Monday, 10 January 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 January 2011. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 January 2011 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mercury

Question: (4) if she will estimate the total amount of mercury abated since the provisions of mercury abatement legislation came into force.

Answer: Policy on reducing mercury emissions from crematoria is kept under regular review. Mercury abatement for 50% of cremations is a proportionate response to tackling a pollutant that has significant health effects—as a neurotoxicant, with the biggest effect on the foetus, newborns and children—as well as damaging ecosystems including fish-eating birds and mammals, Arctic ecosystems, and wetlands.The improvements are being delivered by the industry through an innovative burden-sharing scheme. The sector currently advises an increase in the fee per cremation of £45 to cover costs. This compares with 2010 data from AXA that the average cost of a funeral by burial is £2,857, and around £800 less expensive by cremation.209,000 cremations will need to be subject to abatement. As at November 2010, 75,000 cremations were abated, with expenditure committed or works under way for a further 109,000.

Secondary information