Written question asked by Ayoub Khan (Independent (affiliation)) on Friday, 26 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. It was answered by Catherine Atkinson (Labour) on Monday, 6 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Funerals: Advertising

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with local authorities on their compliance with advertising standards for the provision of funeral and cremation services.

Answer

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the legislative framework to which local authorities’ provision of burial and cremation is subject. However, we do not have day-to-day operational oversight of public cemeteries and crematoria, which are managed locally in line with relevant priorities.

In addition, the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 (Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 - GOV.UK) requires all crematorium operators to display specified price information and supply it to customers and local funeral directors; to provide the CMA with specified revenue and volume information; and to provide an annual compliance statement to the CMA.

More generally, local authorities should ensure that publicity complies with all applicable statutory provisions, including the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity 2011 (1878324.pdf). Paid-for advertising must comply with the Advertising Standards Authority’s Advertising Codes.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13724
Session: 2026-27
Transferred: Yes
Subjects: Advertising Funerals Standards
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Funerals: Advertising

Secondary information

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