Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1289449

registered interest
date	24/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help reduce the cost of services provided by funeral companies.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	158224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2021 answer text <p>The Competition and Market’s Authority have completed a comprehensive investigation into the funeral market. The government is carefully considering the recommendations made in the final report and will be issuing a response shortly.</p><p> </p><p>In regard to the cost of funeral services; the Competition and Market’s Authority are continuing to look at pricing controls and will commence their monitoring programme soon. Additionally, the Government helps with the cost of funeral services for many bereaved families through the funeral expenses payment scheme and the Children’s Funeral Fund.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk grouped question UIN 157320 question first answered 03/03/2021 14:40:53 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1286868

registered interest
date	19/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average cost of a funeral.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	154602
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The Competition and Market Authority’s recently published funeral sector report noted that the average cost of funeral directors’ professional fees is £2,501, with burial disbursements (e.g. floral tributes, catering, minister of religion or celebrant fees and newspaper announcements) costing £2,268 and cremation disbursements (e.g. local authority fees and doctors fees) costing £1,170.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 01/03/2021 15:45:25 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1231911

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help reduce the cost of services provided by funeral companies.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	86182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently undertaking a full market investigation into the supply of services by funeral directors at the point of need and the supply of crematoria services, in light of the findings of a preceding market study. The CMA’s <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f33c62b8fa8f57acebf6845/Funerals_Provisional_decision_report_120820.pdf" target="_blank">Provisional Decision Report</a> on the market investigation was published on 13 August 2020, and it is required to publish its final report by 27 March 2021.</p><p>The Government is grateful for the CMA’s provisional findings and will give full consideration to its final report in due course.</p><p>The DWP Funeral Expenses Payments (FEP) scheme provides an important contribution towards the cost of a funeral arranged by someone who is in receipt of certain income based benefits including Universal Credit.</p><p>The scheme meets the necessary costs of a burial or cremation in full and, in April 2020, the additional element that can help with expenses such as the costs of a coffin or the services of a funeral director was increased from £700 to £1000.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 10/09/2020 16:22:50 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1188571

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support her Department is providing to low-income families to help towards the cost of funerals during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	South Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Alberto Costa
uin	37918
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government provides support to bereaved families in a number of ways. The Funeral Expenses Payments scheme provides a significant contribution towards the cost of a simple, respectful funeral arranged by recipients of certain income based benefits or tax credits. The scheme pays necessary burial and cremation costs in full, as defined by legislation, plus up to £1000 for other expenses such as the cost of a coffin, church and funeral director fees, which was increased from £700 on 8 April. Scotland has a similar scheme, the Funeral Support Payment scheme. Support for funeral costs for all young people under 18 is provided by the Children’s Funeral Fund for England, with similar schemes in Scotland and Wales. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances can also be used for funeral expenses. Further financial support is available through Bereavement Support Payments which help working age people whose spouse or civil partner dies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 37747 question first answered 28/04/2020 13:25:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4439 label Biography information for Alberto Costa

1131838

registered interest
date	12/06/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to Question 249851, what steps her Department takes to (a) make funerals accessible to everyone and (b) co-ordinate actions between the various bodies listed to ensure they are making funerals accessible to everyone.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	263674
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments provides a significant contribution towards funeral costs for claimants on qualifying benefits. It continues to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial and up to £700 towards other costs. In 2017-18 around 25,500 Funeral Expenses Payment awards were made. This amounted to £37.1 million of support for funeral costs. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances are now also available to assist with funeral costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Department holds regular discussions with funeral providers and related organisations, including a Ministerial Roundtable on 18th June 2019 to discuss the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme and listen to views for suggested future improvements.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 12:07:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1124358

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of families were unable to afford the funeral of family member in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	249851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>Funeral poverty is not just an issue for Government. Providers of funeral services, including the church, funeral directors, local authorities and owners of crematoriums, all have a role to play in ensuring funerals are accessible for everyone.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 07/05/2019 13:53:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

937885

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of a funeral in each year since 2003.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	162525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions does not produce estimates for the average cost of a funeral.</p><p> </p><p>The average Funeral Expenses Payment (FEP) made in each year is published in the Social Fund Annual Report. Table 1 below provides the average FEP made in each year since 2003/04. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Average FEP award, 2003/04 – 2017/18</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Average FEP award</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003/04</p></td><td><p>£1,019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004/05</p></td><td><p>£1,051</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005/06</p></td><td><p>£1,081</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006/07</p></td><td><p>£1,117</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007/08</p></td><td><p>£1,162</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008/09</p></td><td><p>£1,194</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>£1,208</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>£1,217</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>£1,241</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>£1,225</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>£1,347</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>£1,375</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>£1,410</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>£1,427</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£1,461</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Social Fund Annual Reports 2003/04 – 2016/17, Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System</p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><ol><li>The figure for 2017/18 is drawn from the Social Fund Policy Budget and Management Information System as the Social Fund Annual Report 2017/18 is not yet published.</li><li>The average award is the average payment net of returned payments (including appeals). This is calculated by taking the total value of payments in a given year (net of returned payments) and dividing by the total number of payments in a given year, as recorded in the Policy, Budget and Management Information System.</li><li>These averages include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.</li></ol> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 162526 question first answered 18/07/2018 12:32:53 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

794065

registered interest
date	22/11/2017
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he has made with respect to paragraph 17 of the Second Special Report of Session 2016-17 of the Work and Pensions Committee, Support for the bereaved: Government response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2015-16, HC230.
tabling member constituency	Derby North
tabling member printed	Chris Williamson
uin	115153
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to working with stakeholders to improve the scheme, and recently carried out reforms to the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Regulations, to clarify eligibility and simplify the application process. The formal government response can be accessed <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656887/consultation-response-reforms-to-funeral-expenses-payments.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>, these regulations will come into force from spring 2018.</p><p>Funeral Expenses Payments continue to cover the necessary costs involved with funerals and cremations, and up to £700 for other funeral expenses. The funding offered from both Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and Social Fund Budgeting Loans offers an adequate level of support whilst maintaining a fiscally viable fund.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/11/2017 16:08:11 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	3976 label Biography information for Chris Williamson

731085

registered interest
date	21/06/2017
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to initiate a cross-departmental review of funeral poverty to make recommendations for reform.
tabling member printed	Baroness Meacher
uin	HL93
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>Bereavement is a very distressing and difficult time. The Government is committed to working with local authorities, funeral directors and groups helping bereaved people to ensure that funeral services meet the needs of vulnerable people. It will continue to consider this issue in the context of discussions with these organisations.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/07/2017 11:04:41 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	3810 label Biography information for Baroness Meacher

631977

registered interest
date	08/11/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of funeral services in each of the last five years; and what steps he plans to take to provide a more affordable service.
tabling member constituency	Derby North
tabling member printed	Amanda Solloway
uin	52206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2016 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is not responsible for providing funeral services and has made no assessment of the cost of funeral services. The Department continues to make Funeral Expenses Payments to people on qualifying income-based benefits and tax credits who are arranging a funeral. Funeral Expenses Payments make a significant contribution towards the costs of a simple, respectful funeral.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 17/11/2016 15:11:59 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway