The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a review of crematoria provision and facilities, to make sure they are fit for purpose and sensitive to the needs of all faiths and communities.
Cremations are the preferred funeral for Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths and have become increasingly popular in Britain. They are also widely used by Christian denominations and those with no faith. In 2014 over 390,000 cremations took place which represented 77.35% of all deaths in that year.
The Government has said that it would like to hear from all faith groups and communities about the cremation facilities available in their local area and also from the providers of crematoria, including local authorities and the private sector, as well as the Local Government Association and industry representative bodies.
Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “Cremations have become the preferred choice of funeral over burials and the number of new crematoria in England has risen by over10% over the last ten years to meet this increased demand.
“In response to this growth in demand, it is important that there are high quality crematoria that respect cultural and religious traditions and provide tailored services that meet the needs of families at such a difficult time.
“We want ensure that local authorities and private providers take into account the burial practices of all local people in their area and provide the appropriate facilities that reflect the communities they serve.”
The Government will publish a summary of responses in due course and consider whether any policy changes are needed in light of the evidence received.
In the July 2015 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that a review would be conducted following concerns raised about the capacity of crematoria, in particular to accommodate Hindu and Sikh cremations, at which traditionally larger numbers of mourners wish to attend. In addition, there have also been concerns raised, that crematoria do not always pay sufficient regard to the cultural sensitivities of different faiths.
There are 232 crematoria in England. Of these, 77 are private businesses with the rest being owned and run by local authorities.
