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The Competition and Markets Authority must carry out its proposed further market investigation into the funeral industry now the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic are passed

The Competition and Markets Authority invited views on the funeral market in August 2024 to enable it to consider next steps, including whether or not to consult on a market investigation reference. We await their response.

New regulations must be created setting out minimum standards for public health funerals

It is a statutory requirement for local authorities to carry out a burial or cremation, but not all local authorities offer dignity around this option or sensitive customer service for bereaved people.

Quaker Social Action published A patchwork of provision: council funerals across the UK in July 2024, based on a survey of 102 councils and phone calls to 54 councils with volunteers taking on the role of the friend of a bereaved person who needed to organise a funeral. The report shows that a compassionate, simple and equitable process is far from guaranteed in some parts of the country.

A Patchwork of Provision

Funeral Expenses Payment must be extended to currently excluded groups including students

No progress has been made on extensions to currently excluded groups. Down to Earth at Quaker Social Action have launched a new eligibility checker that guides people through the complex criteria for the Funeral Expenses Payment. The hope is that the tool will help potentially vulnerable, recently bereaved people to avoid funeral related debt.
Down to Earth Tool

Out of hours systems must be in place in every local authority to enable rapid processing of death paperwork and registrations so that quick burials can take place for people whose religion requires it.

Steering group partners will be monitoring the implications of the introduction of the Medical Examiners Scheme in England and Wales, which became statutory for all deaths in September 2024. The scheme has processes in place to ensure the urgent release of bodies for burial or cremation where that is required. In 2023, Medical examiner offices in England reported that when urgent release of the body was requested, this was achieved 89% of the time.