Burial and cremation

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on burial and cremation. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs. Related information can be found under bereavement benefits, coroners and registration of births, deaths and marriages.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
09.08.2012	Reuse of graves
	In some areas land for burial is scarce and some burial grounds have closed because they are full. The question of reuse of graves has been under consideration for some time as a means of addressing this problem. The Government has decided that introducing a policy of reusing graves is not critical at this time, but has committed to keeping the situation under review.
16.01.2012	Unsafe headstones in cemeteries
	A number of constituents have raised concerns about the actions of local councils in relation to memorials (headstones) in cemeteries. In some cases memorials have been laid flat or cordoned off and relatives are notified that they must pay to make them safe. Local authorities, acting as burial authorities, have general powers of management in relation to public cemeteries, including power to take any action necessary to remove a danger which arises by reason of the condition of a vault, tombstone or memorial. They also have duties under health and safety legislation.
08.10.2009	Exclusive rights of burial
	A burial authority may grant an exclusive right of burial for a period not exceeding 100 years. Generally, the effect of purchasing the exclusive right of burial is that the grave may not be opened and no one may be buried there without the owner's permission

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
26.07.2010	PROTECTION OF CEMETERIES
	That this House recalls the distress caused to many families at the proposal by BAA as part of its plans for a third runway at Heathrow to drive a road through Cherry Lane cemetery; ...
25.05.2010	VALUE ADDED TAX ON MEMORIALS
	That this House notes with concern that value added tax is applicable to the erection and maintenance of memorials to the deceased; considers this to be an unnecessary and insensitive ...
12.03.2010	MISSING PERSONS IN CYPRUS
	That this House notes the recent discovery of a mass grave in Lapithos containing remains identified as those of Fivos Christofi from Aglantzia, Kostas Kapsokaritis from Tseri and Michalakis ...
28.01.2010	VALUE ADDED TAX ON MEMORIALS
	That this House notes with concern that value added tax is applicable to the erection and maintenance of memorials to the deceased; considers this to be an unnecessary and insensitive ...