Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government has plans to introduce a children's funeral fund.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all families who lose a child are given the support they need. We already have the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment scheme to support eligible bereaved families in need of financial support, and I am leading a piece of work across government to:

• support Kevin Hollinrake’s Private Members’ Bill, to introduce Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) for parents who lose a child under the age of 18;
• introduce a shorter application form for claims relating to children’s funerals from the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment scheme, making it easier for bereaved parents to apply for financial support; and
• bring together information and support from across Government and more widely so it is easily accessible to bereaved parents.