Law Commission consultation on burial and cremation

See paragraph 14.32 of the consultation paper.

We invite consultees’ views on:

1. whether there are circumstances or places in England and Wales where it is difficult for people to find a burial space in locations of their choice;
2. whether our provisional proposals in this Consultation Paper would help to address the availability of burial space;
3. what impact our provisional proposals in this Consultation Paper might have on reducing distress to family and friends of deceased people; and
4. whether more comprehensive or frequent collection of data on burial grounds would be of practical value.

See paragraph 14.42 of the consultation paper.

We invite evidence from consultees on:

1. their general perception of the affordability of burial and cremation;
2. the contribution that burial costs and burial plot fees make to the costs that families and friends bear when organising a funeral; and
3. the impact that our proposed reforms might have on reducing or increasing these costs.

See paragraph 14.48 of the consultation paper.

We invite evidence from consultees on:

1. the costs and benefits private burial grounds are likely to see as a result of our provisional proposals;
2. the costs and benefits funeral directors are likely to see as a result of our provisional proposals; and
3. any benefits or costs that are likely to arise if the rules on the siting of crematoria were repealed.

See paragraph 14.54 of the consultation paper.

We invite evidence from consultees on:

1. the scale of any benefits that are likely to accrue to local authorities if they obtain grave reuse and reclamation powers;
2. the likely additional cost of maintaining Church of England churchyards if they are reopened, and the level of fees that would be required in order to mitigate that cost;
3. the cost to Welsh local authorities if maintenance responsibility for Church in Wales churchyards could be transferred under the law; and
4. any impact on local authorities that might arise from repealing the rule on the siting of crematoria.

See paragraph 14.59 of the consultation paper.

We invite consultees’ views on the potential impact of our provisional proposals on costs to Government, and other operators and owners of burial grounds and crematoria.

Once you have completed your consultation response, we would be grateful if you could complete a short, anonymous survey to help us understand the characteristics of individuals and organisations who have responded. Your answers will be held and analysed separately to your consultation response. The link is here.