Rising cost of burials

Not only is the Highlands one of the most expensive places to live, it seems the region is becoming among the costliest regions to die in too.

So says Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Blair Allan (SNP), responding this week to news that Highland Council’s interment charges have rocketed by more than 100 per cent over the past eight years.

Highland Council has defended the 103 per cent rise as necessary to ensure the recovery of costs following the near decade-long freeze on council tax.

It was recent freedom of information requests by the BBC which revealed that Scotland had risen on average by 75 per cent since 2010.

In 2010/11, Highland Council was charging £445 for interment. By 2017/18 that had risen to £904. And a recent Citizens Advice Scotland review revealed that of the 55,000 funerals taking place in Scotland each year, 10 per cent of families struggle to pay the costs, with the average total of a funeral now £3,600.

Over the same period it emerged that the average fee for a cremation in Scotland also went up, this time by 46 per cent to £685.

Highland Council’s budget for 2018/19 saw a 3.9 per cent inflationary increase on burials and cremations approved back in February. A council spokesman said: ‘Community impact for burials and cremations was assessed and it was identified that grants are available to some families on low income to mitigate funeral costs.’

Caol and Mallaig councillor Allan Henderson (Ind), who chairs the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee, blamed the slashing of council budgets in the same period.

Mr Henderson said the figures revealed by the freedom of information requests were correct. ‘But they have come about since the draconian cuts to council budgets and eight years’ moratorium on council tax, which have forced Highland Council to look more closely at cost recovery for services provided,’ he explained.

‘The Highland Council did this and found they were far short of cost recovery and, in many cases, other council charges. It was clear the compassionate line Highland had taken for many years could not continue at such a discount, so measures were put in place to increase this charge fairly

quickly to a median level, in the hope that only inflationary costs will be needed to keep pace in the future.

‘This was not something that councillors wanted to do, but rather had to do, as we have to return balanced budgets each year.

‘The council has made provision for families on low incomes and has a welfare helpline on 0800 090 1004.

‘Now that charges have become much higher there may be a case for governments taking on a national role and funding burials through our direct taxation which would lead to a much more equitable service for grieving families and relatives, as they come to terms with the loss of a loved one. This would tie in well with free prescriptions and discretionary bus travel.’

Mr Allan continued: ‘I would urge Highland Council to think twice about putting these charges up beyond inflation. I would also advise the bereaved and on low incomes to check their eligibility for government assistance with funeral costs through the Funeral Expenses Payment.

‘From summer 2019 the Scottish Government’s social security agency will be taking responsibility for administering help in this area.

‘I am hopeful that, not only will the new Funeral Expenses Assistance be more generous, but it will also be processed within 10 days and reflect the Scottish Government’s wish to have a social security system that is based on dignity, fairness and respect’.