PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Funerals: Coronavirus (2 March 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what notice period will be given to the funeral and death care sector for guidance on the relaxation of rules limiting the number of attendees at funeral services during the covid-19 outbreak.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

The Government’s guidance for those managing funerals is available through the Deceased Management Advisory Group website. This guidance details the actions funeral directors and others managing funerals should take to ensure funerals take place in a COVID-19 safe and secure way. This includes ensuring a COVID-19 risk assessment is in place and that all reasonable steps are taken to limit the risk of transmission, taking into account the risk assessment and relevant legislation including around attendance.

Ahead of Step 4 of the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ roadmap (no earlier than 21 June), the Government will launch the Events Research Programme, to consider how and when restrictions can be lifted from large events including funerals and wakes. Subject to the outcomes of the review at each stage, the forward plan will be included in the Roadmap for when limits on funeral attendance might be lifted and the relevant guidance will be updated accordingly.

Answered by:
Kit Malthouse (Conservative)
10 March 2021