Funerals: Death Certificate Delays

Viscount Stansgate Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Viscount Stansgate]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce reported delays in holding funerals because of changes in the provision of death certificates.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, the death certification reforms are increasing scrutiny of deaths and patient safety, and supporting the bereaved. We are taking steps to reduce the time to register a death, through active monitoring of the reforms, using weekly data from the ONS to target the challenges and the necessary support. We are also working with faith groups and the funeral sector to identify and reduce any obstacles, and sharing any concerns we receive with NHS England so that they can be swiftly resolved.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that Answer. When my dad died—incidentally, he was born 100 years ago today—it was possible to arrange his funeral in two weeks. That is not now possible. I have talked to the National Association of Funeral Directors, and I understand that there is a lot of confusion around the country about the new procedures, although everyone understands why they are there. Is there more that could be done in hospitals or by GPs to help families who are having to cope with the unfamiliarity of the new procedures at the time of their own grief? More widely, might it be possible for the Government to start considering regulating the funeral profession, as has happened in Scotland?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am sure that we all wish to pay tribute to the memory of my noble friend’s late father. I appreciate the points that he has made. It is not the case that delays to funerals can be identified and formally linked with the changes in death certification. My noble friend raised a lot of points, many of which are valid. In a bereavement, it is more important than ever that any official processes—as well as the funeral sector itself—work as seamlessly and sensitively as possible. I assure my noble friend that not only are we driving improvement by implementing the death registration reforms but we are very focused on supporting the bereaved. On my noble friend’s point about regulation, I am not aware of any plans at present.