Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is for the re-use of graves across England and Wales.

As set out in our response on 2 December (UIN 80903), the reuse of burial space is a sensitive issue and we are carefully considering what action could be taken. We have not made a recent assessment of the availability of burial space in England and Wales, but we continue to work closely with stakeholders to build a national picture and welcome any information from burial providers about the circumstances in their area.

In addition, the Law Commission, as part of its programme of law reform, will be considering the modernising and streamlining of the law governing the disposal of human remains, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future. The Law Commission is working to prioritise this project, with a view to commencing it later this year subject to completion of current work. Further information on the project can be found at: www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/a-modern-framework-for-disposing-of-the-dead.