Theresa May announces end of child burial fees in England
2 min read
Child burial fees will no longer be imposed on grieving parents, Theresa May has announced.
The cost of burials and cremations will now be covered by a new Children’s Funeral Fund, following a sustained campaign by Labour MP Carolyn Harris.
The Swansea East MP, who was forced to take out a loan to cover the cost of her son’s funeral, had already secured the change in Wales, and will now see it brought in across England.
Ms Harris hailed the decision as “dignified and compassionate".
She added: "After so much pressure and so much time, families right across the United Kingdom can know that if they're ever in that terrible, terrible position when they lose a child, that there will now be a pot of money available to make sure that child has a dignified and respectful funeral."
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the "dignity and strength" of Ms Harris.
"In the raw pain of immediate loss, it cannot be right that grieving parents should have to worry about how to meet the funeral costs for a child they hoped to see grow into adulthood,” Mrs May said.
"In the darkest moment of any parent's life there is little light - but there can be support.
"That is why I have asked for the Children's Funeral Fund to be set up in England. For Carolyn, in memory of her son Martin, and in support of all those parents overwhelmed by such harrowing loss."
Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the announcement, describing it as “wonderful news”.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
