Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to list the local authorities which have (a) conducted or are conducting inquiries into baby ashes and cremation regulations and (b) had discussions with the Government on conducting potential inquiries.

The report of the inquiry into historic infant cremation practices at Emstrey Crematorium in Shropshire was published in June 2015. Lord Bonomy’s Infant Cremation Commission in Scotland also raised concerns about cremation practices. The Government announced reforms in July, which will make sure that where these tragic circumstances arise in future matters are dealt with properly and sensitively.

Ministry of Justice officials had discussions with the chair of the Emstrey inquiry, commissioned by Shropshire County Council, prior to his inquiry beginning and more recently have been in correspondence with Hull City Council about their work to investigate historic practices there.

The National Cremation Working Group, convened by the Ministry of Justice in July 2016, is comprised of representatives from the cremation and funeral industries, voluntary organisations which support bereaved parents, medical professionals and other government departments with an interest in cremation. The group has thus far conducted business by email. Membership is as follows:

Action 4 Ashes (Shropshire)

Action For Ashes (Hull)

Association of Private Crematoria and Cemeteries

Blackpool Council

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Conwy County Borough Council

Co-operative Funeral Care

Cremation Society of Great Britain

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cwm Taf University Health Board

Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department of Health

Dignity PLC

Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities

Hull City Council

Human Tissue Authority

Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management

Lullaby Trust

National Association of Funeral Directors

National Bereavement Alliance

National Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Hampshire

Royal College of Midwives

Sands; Stillbirth and neonatal death charity

Welsh Government