Funeral Premises: Environmental Health Inspections

Ayoub Khan Excerpts
Tuesday 3rd March 2026

(1 day, 11 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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Mark Sewards Portrait Mark Sewards
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I absolutely agree. There have been too many cases in recent memory of people not being cared for with the dignity that they deserved.

This topic first came to my attention when my constituents Cody and Liam Townend contacted me, along with another mum, Zoe Ward. They lost babies in different circumstances and went to the same funeral director, an organisation called Florrie’s Army. To their horror, their babies’ bodies were taken to the private home of the person in charge of Florrie’s Army, and they were not treated with the care and respect that they deserved. I will not repeat the shocking details here, but the BBC report can be found online. Cody and Zoe asked what I could do to help, because although it was reported to the police, they found nothing actionable.

Ayoub Khan Portrait Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) (Ind)
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I thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. I know that he is deeply passionate about our shared work in the all-party parliamentary group for funerals, coroners and bereavement, where we have learnt about the cases he described. Does he agree that the Minister would benefit from meeting our APPG to discuss the funeral sector and how it can develop the clear standards, robust oversight and proper enforcement it so desperately requires?

Mark Sewards Portrait Mark Sewards
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I concur; the Minister is very welcome to come to our APPG.