Scrapping child burial fees is step forward

SNP social justice spokesman Neil Gray MP has welcomed last week’s announcement by the Scottish Government that child burial and cremation charges are to be scrapped in Scotland.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA, has committed £500,000 in funding to ensure that no local authority in Scotland will charge for the burial or cremation of children under 18.

The MP for Airdrie and Shotts, who has been fighting against funeral poverty since entering the Commons three years ago and first raised child burial fees with Scottish Ministers 18 months ago, said: “When a parent suffers the loss of a child, the last thing they should be worrying about is whether they can afford burial fees.

“So this is a very welcome step from the Scottish Government and COSLA, to scrap burial and cremation fees for under 18s.

“The announcement follows the news that the Scottish Government will invest an additional £3 million for when the new Scottish Funeral Expense Assistance fund will start in 2019, extending eligibility to approximately 2000 more payments than under the current system from Westminster.

“Funeral poverty has been highlighted by the SNP at Westminster as a major issue in recent years and this SNP Scottish Government is using new powers to do what it can to help those who are grieving and in financial distress.”