Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to provide live-streaming of funerary services during the covid-19 outbreak.
It is only right that families have a final opportunity to pay their last respects to those they love at this incredibly difficult time. On 17 April I sent a letter to local authorities outlining how they can develop safe and sensitive ways for funerals to take place, including live streaming and deferred memorial services. On 18 April, £1.6 billion of funding was also made available to support local authorities with the costs of responding to COVID-19, including costs associated with death management. This funding will support councils to continue to deliver innovative solutions which make funerals accessible to the bereaved, where they cannot physically attend.