THE Liberal Democrat MP Susan Murray has urged the Government to improve crematorium facilities for faith communities in England.
Moving a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday, she said: “For many, cremation or burial may seem a straightforward matter, an administrative process supported by local authorities and funeral providers. Yet for a significant section of our population, and particularly those from minority faiths, the reality is far more complex. Limited provision, a lack of awareness, and regulatory barriers too often mean that families are left distressed and unsupported at the moment when they most need compassion.”
Most of the 300 crematoria in the UK operated on a standardised model that did not reflect the full diversity of religious practice, she said. Restrictions on time limits and lengths of services “fail to provide space” for dignity within religious rituals — a situation exacerbated by delays in death certification and coronial processes.
“This is not a question of faith; it is about fairness and equality. . . That inequality is compounded by financial barriers.”
She asked the minister to give a commitment to reviewing “the provision of religiously appropriate crematoriums across Britain”, to identify and close gaps; to ensuring that “coroner and registration services are able to respond to the urgent burial needs of certain faiths with clear national guidance”; and to ensuring “that the equality duty is properly considered in all planning and funding decisions relating to crematoriums and burial services, so that minority communities are not excluded”.
In response, the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, acknowledged the “unique needs” of religious communities. “Although the Ministry of Justice is responsible for law and policy relating to cremation, the Government do not have direct operational responsibility for the provision of cremation services. . . There is no central funding available for the building of crematoriums.”
Their conduct was, however, subject to the Cremation Act 1902 and Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008. The Law Commission was undertaking further work on the issue of differing religious and cultural needs. She said that she would relay the request for a review to the Minister for Faith.
