Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what additional financial support he plans to provide to funeral directors to help them manage attendance requests from self-isolating relatives of the deceased during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has announced a wide series of measures to support businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, business rate relief and other measures, for which it has been open to funeral directors to apply. We continue to assess the impacts of COVID-19 and keep the funeral sector’s needs under review.

The Government recognises the importance of balancing the needs of the bereaved to mourn with the need to minimise the spread of COVID-19 infection. To support the management of this balance, we have published Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic which, while recognising the importance of these rituals and gatherings, details the actions which are important in reducing the spread of infection. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic