Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2016
When I moved an amendment identical to amendment 1 at stage 2, the minister said:
“I support the principle behind the amendment.”
Therefore, it is really welcome that the Government will support amendment 1.
The minister also said:
“Funeral costs have been debated repeatedly throughout the bill’s passage. The bill’s central purpose is to improve legislation governing burial and cremation”.—[Official Report, Local Government and Regeneration Committee, 9 March 2016; c 30, 29.]
However, she added that she remained of the view that the bill was “not the right vehicle” to tackle funeral poverty.
The bill’s central purpose, which I do not disagree with, does not exclude the provision of guidance on funeral costs and the desirability of such costs being affordable. Therefore, I welcome the Government’s support for the amendment at stage 3.
The minister did not make any comments about the drafting of the amendment that I lodged at stage 2; rather, she suggested that such a provision did not need to be included in the bill. I felt differently, especially having read the consultation responses, so I lodged the amendment again.
In the consultation document on the bill, there was a section on funeral poverty in which the minister sought answers to questions. The questions primarily focused on local authorities, but the final question asked:
“What else could be done to reduce funeral costs and ensure that they remain affordable for everyone?”
Amending the bill to incorporate a duty to produce guidance will improve the current position. The consultation responses suggested that, in some areas, third sector organisations have produced guidance on how to make funerals more affordable. However, coverage is patchy, and the amendment will ensure consistency of information throughout Scotland.
Citizens Advice Scotland states that 19 per cent of issues raised with Scottish citizens advice bureaux regarding bereavement relate to funeral poverty. I welcome the Government’s support because, if the amendment is agreed to, it will be a start in eradicating funeral poverty.
I move amendment 1.
11:00