Funerals: Death Certificate Delays

Lord Rook Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

We are always happy to learn from the practices of other Governments, and we will continue to work on speed and, as I said, to keep distress and delay at a minimum.

[Lord Rook (Lab)]

My Lords, I point to my entry in the register of interests as an Anglican priest. I am particularly glad that my noble friend the Minister mentioned the challenges for faith communities and the important role that ministers of religion have not only in conducting funerals but in supporting families with grief and loss. Obviously, a delay to those things can cause family stress and tension. What are the Government doing to engage Muslim communities, which particularly feel the stress and pressure of this issue given their obligation to have swift funerals?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I pay great attention to this area, as I mentioned in my response to the noble Lord, Lord Polak. I met faith group leaders in December, and we have worked very closely with faith groups to develop the medical examiner system. The faith groups are very supportive of the reforms, have broadly welcomed the implementation and continue to work with us to identify any issues, for which I am very grateful. Data from regional medical examiner offices in England, although unpublished, indicate that 88% of requests for urgent scrutiny—the group we are talking about in the faith communities—were met. Indeed, in Wales the corresponding figure has been assessed to be 99%. I assure all noble Lords that we are working extremely hard to make sure that the system reduces any unnecessary delays, and we will continue to do so.