Written question asked by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 21 April 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 April 1998. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 April 1998 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what plans she has to protect consumers in respect of the costs of funeral services.

Answer: Mr. Sanders: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to protect consumers in respect of the costs of funeral services. [39463] Mr. Nigel Griffiths: I am pleased to inform the hon. Gentleman that funeral directors belonging to the Funeral Standards Council and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) are affiliated to the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme, SAIF having joined earlier this month. As the hon. Gentleman may be aware, I have previously expressed my support for a single scheme and I welcome this development. Both the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme's code of practice, and that of the National Association of Funeral Directors (who operate a separate scheme for consumer redress) require members to make a basic funeral available with its price clearly indicated. Where funeral directors do not do this, consumers must report them to the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme or the National Association of Funeral Directors as applicable. I am concerned that there is not enough transparency in this and in other aspects of the funeral business and I have asked the industry to improve consumer protection.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 311 c71W; 39463
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Consumers Fees and charges Funerals Protection Ombudsman Funeral payments National Association of Funeral Directors Funeral ombudsman scheme