Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the devolved administrations on waiving the costs of child burials.

While the UK Government has taken steps to introduce a Children’s Funeral Fund in England to spare grieving families the burden of meeting funeral costs, the establishment of such a scheme in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.

It is my sincere hope that an Executive will be restored to consider how devolved finances can best be utilised to provide support for those families in Northern Ireland who have had to endure the unbearable loss of a child.