Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 19 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 1998. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 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, if she will take action to warn (a) pensioners and (b) others about the activities of funeral directors who encourage people to opt for unnecessarily expensive funerals.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take action to warn (a) pensioners and (b) others about the activities of funeral directors who encourage people to opt for unnecessarily expensive funerals. [24723] Mr. Nigel Griffiths: I share the hon. Member's concern about this issue. Funeral directors have a duty to deal fairly with people at times of stress. The codes of practice of all the funeral trade associations require their members to make a basic funeral available with its price clearly indicated. Where funeral directors do not do this, I urge consumers to report them to the relevant trade association of the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme as applicable. I am concerned that there is not enough transparency in this and in other aspects of the funeral business and I am looking to the industry in the first instance to improve consumer protection.

Secondary information