Funeral pricing scheme extended

A scheme which fixes costs for funerals has saved grieving West Lothian families almost £80,000 in two years.

The West Lothian Respectful Funeral model has been so successful local undertakers have now agreed to continue the scheme until 2023 before reviewing it again.

The plan had been scheduled to finish this year.

The scheme provides an added element of choice for residents who may find the cost of paying for the funeral of a loved one through the traditional methods beyond their financial reach.

Whilst the Scottish Government Funeral Support Payment will help those on welfare benefits, it was, and remains, the aim of the West Lothian Respectful Funeral to provide an opportunity for all residents to reduce funeral costs below the average cost

West Lothian Council worked with local undertakers in 2019 to create a practical service offering fixed costs for bereaved people faced with the ever growing costs of funerals, the council’s Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel heard.

Funeral poverty is an increasing reality for many in the UK who find themselves in a position where the cost of a funeral outweighs their ability to pay.

The average cost of a funeral in Scotland is now £3885, having risen from £3700 when the scheme was launched.

According to a Citizens Advice Scotland report in November 2017, the cost of a burial in West Lothian falls below the Scottish average and is ranked 27th out of 32 Scottish local authorities.

Cremations in West Lothian currently rank as the eighth most expensive out of 27 crematoriums across Scotland.

Discussions with local funeral directors laid the groundwork for a Respectful Funeral plan which fixed costs.

A price of £1550 was agreed with five service providers for the services specified as the West Lothian Respectful Funeral Model.

For that price families receive a service which includes: completion of necessary certification, taking instructions and providing guidance on registration and legallyrequired procedures; provision of a coffin; transportation; including the provision of a hearse, and the opportunity to hold a service at a crematorium, funeral parlour or cemetery.

The funeral directors taking part are Brodies Funeral Directors Ltd, Coop Funeralcare, Brownings Funeral Directors, Thomas Grieve and Son Family Funeral Directors and Thomas Brown and Sons (Scotmid).

A report to the Environment PDSP said: “The initial two years of the scheme had an agreed price of £1550. Following consultation, and in light of the continuing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, all participating funeral directors have agreed to hold this price for a period of two years from April 2021, at which point a review of sustainability, cost and continuation will be undertaken.”

Under the transfer of welfare provision to the devolved government, the Scottish Government introduced the Funeral Support Payment (FSP).

This benefit provides an average of £1700 towards funeral costs to those on a qualifying benefit.

A spokesman for the council said the scheme aims to help with offering another choice tro families.

They said: “We created the programme locally, brought the funeral directors together to agree the provision, to help mitigate the costs for residents and to provide an additional element of choice.”

Councillor Alison Adamson said the scheme was an excellent example of the council working in collaboration with local businesses.

She added: “It is providing services for people at a time when they need all the help they can get.

“I think we should acknowledge the local businesses taking part in the scheme.

“Well done to them.”