Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has provided guidance to local authorities on notifying families of the deceased when (a) laying down and (b) moving (i) gravestones and (ii) other memorials.

The Government has published a guide on Managing the safety of Burial Ground Memorials (Managing the safety of Burial Ground Memorials - Practical advice for dealing with unstable memorials (publishing.service.gov.uk)); and a Guide for Burial Ground Managers (8430_Burial Ground Managers (publishing.service.gov.uk)) which provides guidance to local authorities on managing burial grounds.

These documents provide best practice guidance on the appropriate procedure where maintenance to a gravestone or memorial is required. Where removal of a gravestone or memorial is being considered, the guidance emphasises the importance of communication with the family of the deceased and the local community. This includes giving appropriate notice so that the bereaved family may make alternative arrangements if they wish.