We all know about the increased cost of living but the price rises don’t end there. NICOLA FINDLAY reports on newly-released figures which show those grieving the death of a loved one are being hit in the pocket...

Basic burial costs in South Lanarkshire have rocketed by more than 150 per cent in the last seven years, according to latest figures.

Statistics obtained by the BBC through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that South Lanarkshire Council’s internment cost went from £335 in 2010/11 to £842 in 2017/18 – a jump of 151 per cent.

It was the third highest out of the 30 local authorities who responded to the FOI request.

Neighbouring North Lanarkshire came fifth with a 132 per cent increase, going from £364 to £845.

South Lanarkshire say there has been no rise since 2015 – and over £1 million has been invested in cemeteries since 2014.

A recent Citizens Advice Scotland review said of the 55,000 funerals taking place in Scotland each year, 10 per cent of families struggle to pay the bill with the average cost of a funeral standing at £3600.

East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said new powers being transferred from Westminster to Holyrood will help tackle funeral poverty while Tory Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson said the costs – on top of grief – can come as a “huge shock”.

East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Dr Lisa Cameron has vowed to bring the matter to the attention of UK Government ministers at Westminster.

“It is extremely important that burial costs are looked at as part of tackling the serious issue of funeral poverty,” she told the News.

“I am very concerned to hear that there has been such a significant increase in costs for families at their most vulnerable moment.

“There requires to be absolute transparency in this sector, especially when dealing with funeral payment plans and I will be raising this issue with government ministers”.

Ms Fabiani said: “Citizens Advice Scotland have been campaigning on this for a long time, along with the Scottish Older Peoples’ Assembly who raised it with me in Parliament recently when they visited along with their chairman, East Kilbride resident Tom Berney.

“This is a growing issue and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting those who need it most following a bereavement.

“That’s why with the transfer of powers from Westminster the Scottish Government will introduce new funeral expense assistance from summer 2019 as part of their 10-point plan to help people struggling with debt to manage funeral costs.

“I welcome that, and I know that many others will too.”

Mr Simpson said: “There is a big issue with funeral poverty across Scotland, which is down to the cost of them.

“It’s not something that people tend to budget for so – apart from dealing with the heartache of losing a loved one – a bill of potentially thousands of pounds comes as a huge shock to people.

“Councils have costs to cover but they need to keep charges for burials and cremations as low as possible.

“Some of the increases we have seen are eye-watering.

“South Lanarkshire has seen steep increases in charges, though nothing since 2015. I hope that the days of massive rises are behind us.”

Labour’s Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon added: “Food banks in East Kilbride are struggling to respond to rising poverty in our communities.

“If coping with the cost of living is already difficult for many people, it’s no surprise the rocketing rise in burial costs means the cost of dying