FOI request (FOIR-716630400)

Checks on Funeral Homes

Requested Wed 21 May 2025
Responded Wed 28 May 2025

Last year the government wrote to all councils to ask them to carry out checks of all funeral homes in their area. I understand that it was largely environmental health teams who carried out this work.

Please can you tell me:

1. if the council has completed these checks.

2. where any concerns about specific funeral homes were identified please provide a summary of the concern and the name of the business.

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Response

Reassurance visits have been completed.

All funeral directors visited were found to be keen, enthusiastic and helpful with these visits.

Feedback on visits was provided to the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities for the need for:

a. Mandatory training for morticians and funeral services nationwide.

b. A national inspection regime by an appointed regulator to national specified standards.

During visits, funeral directors agreed with the need for these measures to provide ongoing reassurance and confidence to the public for funeral services nationwide.