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Written question asked by Karl Turner (Independent (affiliation)) on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 April 2026. It was answered by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Funerals: Environmental Health

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has the department made of the adequacy of environmental health inspections with regard to the case of Elkin & Bell Funeral Directors, Portsmouth Crown Court 2026.

Answer

The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.

Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.

The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
123634
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Inspections Environmental health Funerals Portsmouth
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk