To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection provided by at-need funeral, cremation and burial services offered by Local Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection provided by at-need funeral, cremation and burial services offered by Local Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the fulfilment of consumer requirements in the (a) funeral, (b) cremation and (c) burial services sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the fulfilment of consumer requirements in the (a) funeral, (b) cremation and (c) burial services sectors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether consumers that purchase pre-paid funeral services from a Local Authority are able to (i) access the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and (ii) make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether consumers that purchase pre-paid funeral services from a Local Authority are able to (i) access the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and (ii) make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who purchase pre-paid funeral services from a Local Authority outside of current Financial Conduct Authority and Competitions and Markets Authority regulation have adequate consumer protections.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who purchase pre-paid funeral services from a Local Authority outside of current Financial Conduct Authority and Competitions and Markets Authority regulation have adequate consumer protections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on consumer protection measures for the funeral sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on consumer protection measures for the funeral sector.

Hundreds of my West Dunbartonshire constituents, and thousands more across the country, were served notice of the termination of their family protection funeral plan by CMutual and Maiden Life UK. All are members of credit unions, and they are elderly and vulnerable. They have paid in thousands of pounds over...

Hundreds of my West Dunbartonshire constituents, and thousands more across the country, were served notice of the termination of their family protection funeral plan by CMutual and Maiden Life UK. All are members of credit unions, and they are elderly and vulnerable. They have paid in thousands of pounds over...

This is an important issue and a concerning situation, and I will draw it to the attention of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. My hon. Friend may get an opportunity to raise the issue during the Budget debate, for which there will be a lot of time.

This is an important issue and a concerning situation, and I will draw it to the attention of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. My hon. Friend may get an opportunity to raise the issue during the Budget debate, for which there will be a lot of time.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

There are many issues that will divide this House and many issues that will divide society, but one thing that probably unites all of us, and indeed society, is that we have a legitimate expectation of decent and respectful treatment for our dead. I do not think that is asking...

There are many issues that will divide this House and many issues that will divide society, but one thing that probably unites all of us, and indeed society, is that we have a legitimate expectation of decent and respectful treatment for our dead. I do not think that is asking...

The hon. Member sheds a light on an area that I have only just come to, and that was through a piece of casework. It was absolutely devastating to receive a piece of casework about abysmal funeral services, which included the mis-selling of a plot in a local cemetery, extortionate...

The hon. Member sheds a light on an area that I have only just come to, and that was through a piece of casework. It was absolutely devastating to receive a piece of casework about abysmal funeral services, which included the mis-selling of a plot in a local cemetery, extortionate...

I do agree. In many respects, the only bit of legislation on which we can rest a serious prosecution is the Burial Act 1857, which deals with the corpse post internment. It is silent on the corpse’s treatment from the point of death through to the point of either internment...

I do agree. In many respects, the only bit of legislation on which we can rest a serious prosecution is the Burial Act 1857, which deals with the corpse post internment. It is silent on the corpse’s treatment from the point of death through to the point of either internment...

I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate. This is the second Adjournment debate of his in which I have been involved in the last six months. He brings to the House subjects that are pertinent not just to North Dorset but to every constituency across the whole United...

I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate. This is the second Adjournment debate of his in which I have been involved in the last six months. He brings to the House subjects that are pertinent not just to North Dorset but to every constituency across the whole United...

I fundamentally agree with what the hon. Gentleman said, as would the lion’s share of operators, because they are acutely aware of a crisis of public confidence in the sector’s ability to deliver.

I fundamentally agree with what the hon. Gentleman said, as would the lion’s share of operators, because they are acutely aware of a crisis of public confidence in the sector’s ability to deliver.

The hon. Gentleman is making an excellent speech on an incredibly difficult topic. Next month, I am bringing two mums from Leeds down to meet the Victims Minister. They tragically lost their babies in different circumstances, but both went to the same funeral director, who did horrific things with their...

The hon. Gentleman is making an excellent speech on an incredibly difficult topic. Next month, I am bringing two mums from Leeds down to meet the Victims Minister. They tragically lost their babies in different circumstances, but both went to the same funeral director, who did horrific things with their...

I am very sorry to hear what the hon. Gentleman has relayed; I know that the whole House will send prayers, thoughts and sympathies to his constituents. What a terrible thing to be dealing with in what are already tragically sad circumstances. He is right to urge the Minister to...

I am very sorry to hear what the hon. Gentleman has relayed; I know that the whole House will send prayers, thoughts and sympathies to his constituents. What a terrible thing to be dealing with in what are already tragically sad circumstances. He is right to urge the Minister to...

On that point, will my hon. Friend give way?

On that point, will my hon. Friend give way?

Let me just continue.

The Minister and I would not need a licence and we would not be inspected; all we would have to do is put up a sign saying “Funeral Directors” with the hours of operation on it. That cannot be right. It cannot be right that when a...

Let me just continue.

The Minister and I would not need a licence and we would not be inspected; all we would have to do is put up a sign saying “Funeral Directors” with the hours of operation on it. That cannot be right. It cannot be right that when a...

My hon. Friend makes the point that many of our constituents across the country do not realise that anybody could set up and run a funeral director service. Sam Gallagher, one of the directors of Gallagher Family Funeral Directors in Keighley, wrote to me to advocate, quite rightly, that the...

My hon. Friend makes the point that many of our constituents across the country do not realise that anybody could set up and run a funeral director service. Sam Gallagher, one of the directors of Gallagher Family Funeral Directors in Keighley, wrote to me to advocate, quite rightly, that the...

I agree with my hon. Friend. It is a great strength to be a member of the trade association, because it gives an imprimatur of quality to the families choosing a funeral director, just as customers would choose a CORGI-registered boiler fitter or FENSA for windows. As the trade associations...

I agree with my hon. Friend. It is a great strength to be a member of the trade association, because it gives an imprimatur of quality to the families choosing a funeral director, just as customers would choose a CORGI-registered boiler fitter or FENSA for windows. As the trade associations...