To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential funding models for any future regulation of the funeral sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential funding models for any future regulation of the funeral sector.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting up an emergency fund to support the customers of the failed Safe Hands Funeral Plans who may fall into funeral poverty as a result of that company's collapse.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting up an emergency fund to support the customers of the failed Safe Hands Funeral Plans who may fall into funeral poverty as a result of that company's collapse.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what additional financial support he plans to provide to funeral directors to help them manage attendance requests from self-isolating relatives of the deceased during the covid-19 outbreak.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what additional financial support he plans to provide to funeral directors to help them manage attendance requests from self-isolating relatives of the deceased during the covid-19 outbreak.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a crisis funeral loan to (a) support grieving families and (b) provide confidence to funeral homes that their costs will be met in the context of the covid-19 pandemic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a crisis funeral loan to (a) support grieving families and (b) provide confidence to funeral homes that their costs will be met in the context of the covid-19 pandemic.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Government on establishment of a child funeral fund to support bereaved families.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Government on establishment of a child funeral fund to support bereaved families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the absence of devolved government, if she will consult on the potential merits of introducing a children’s funeral fund in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the absence of devolved government, if she will consult on the potential merits of introducing a children’s funeral fund in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) Welsh Government ministers and (c) Scottish Government ministers on the implementation of the children's funeral fund in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) Welsh Government ministers and (c) Scottish Government ministers on the implementation of the children's funeral fund in England.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I absolutely agree with him. He may know that I campaigned with the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) before taking up my post. I am personally committed to this, the Department is committed to this, the Prime Minister is committed to this and we will deliver it.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I absolutely agree with him. He may know that I campaigned with the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) before taking up my post. I am personally committed to this, the Department is committed to this, the Prime Minister is committed to this and we will deliver it.

The hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) has fought a very good campaign to have a children’s funeral fund set up in England. She was told that it would happen within 12 months, and it has not. Does my right hon. Friend agree that all of us on the Government Benches have an obligation to fulfil promises that have been made, and that that is a very important one?

The hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) has fought a very good campaign to have a children’s funeral fund set up in England. She was told that it would happen within 12 months, and it has not. Does my right hon. Friend agree that all of us on the Government Benches have an obligation to fulfil promises that have been made, and that that is a very important one?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Anyone who has visited my office here in Westminster will be able to testify that one of its walls is chaotically adorned with a vision of my world. There are newspaper articles, thank-you cards and notes from colleagues and constituents to remind me that I have...

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Anyone who has visited my office here in Westminster will be able to testify that one of its walls is chaotically adorned with a vision of my world. There are newspaper articles, thank-you cards and notes from colleagues and constituents to remind me that I have...

Will the hon. Lady give way?

Will the hon. Lady give way?

I certainly will.

I certainly will.

While the hon. Lady gets her breath back, can I just say that many Conservative Members absolutely and totally support her? We think that she has been marvellous in running this campaign, and we are urging our Government to act on her behalf.

While the hon. Lady gets her breath back, can I just say that many Conservative Members absolutely and totally support her? We think that she has been marvellous in running this campaign, and we are urging our Government to act on her behalf.

Thank you.

On the wall of my office, there are invites for meetings, receptions and dinners—mostly to remind me where I need to be, and when. Among all that sits a letter, which has probably been pinned up longer than anything else. That letter is on Downing Street headed notepaper, signed...

Thank you.

On the wall of my office, there are invites for meetings, receptions and dinners—mostly to remind me where I need to be, and when. Among all that sits a letter, which has probably been pinned up longer than anything else. That letter is on Downing Street headed notepaper, signed...

My hon. Friend has been a sturdy campaigner for this cause for a long time. I am glad the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith) recognises what a great champion she has been for such a great cause. I wish her every success in future.

My hon. Friend has been a sturdy campaigner for this cause for a long time. I am glad the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith) recognises what a great champion she has been for such a great cause. I wish her every success in future.

Thank you.

What I will tell the House is that nothing prepares you for the loss of a child. The devastation is unimaginable for anyone who has not experienced it. It almost destroyed me, and if it were not for the fact that Martin’s brother, Stuart, who is now a strapping...

Thank you.

What I will tell the House is that nothing prepares you for the loss of a child. The devastation is unimaginable for anyone who has not experienced it. It almost destroyed me, and if it were not for the fact that Martin’s brother, Stuart, who is now a strapping...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

The Welsh Labour Government have implemented the fund. The Scottish Government have implemented the fund. Councils across Northern Ireland have implemented the fund. I really do appreciate that the Minister has been supportive of my ask, and I actually feel quite sorry for him that he has to respond to...

The Welsh Labour Government have implemented the fund. The Scottish Government have implemented the fund. Councils across Northern Ireland have implemented the fund. I really do appreciate that the Minister has been supportive of my ask, and I actually feel quite sorry for him that he has to respond to...

The hon. Lady’s bravery is remarkable and it is a privilege to be here to show support for the cause that she has championed. We should not have to be. The example she gives is that of just one of many families who have suffered the extraordinary pain and trauma...

The hon. Lady’s bravery is remarkable and it is a privilege to be here to show support for the cause that she has championed. We should not have to be. The example she gives is that of just one of many families who have suffered the extraordinary pain and trauma...

Thank you very much.

In the press release last year when the introduction of the fund was first announced, Downing Street estimated that around 4,350 children die under the age of 18 each year in England, leaving grieving parents facing thousands in council fees for burial or cremation costs. That same...

Thank you very much.

In the press release last year when the introduction of the fund was first announced, Downing Street estimated that around 4,350 children die under the age of 18 each year in England, leaving grieving parents facing thousands in council fees for burial or cremation costs. That same...