Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Government and COSLA, the national association of Scottish councils, have agreed to work together to remove the fees, which would help to relieve some of the pressure on grieving families.

Most local authorities in Scotland do not charge for burials or cremations for those under the age of 16, with the new commitment seeing this extended to removing burial and cremation charges up to the age of 18.

Fr Kevin Dow, parish priest of Sts John and Columba’s Rosyth, told the SCO that he ‘welcomed the decision’ to lift costs. However, he highlighted concerns around costs that will ‘have a bearing more so on the Catholic community.’

“My first reaction, is to welcome the decision made by the Scottish Government and COSLA to lift the cost that is made by the local authorities when it comes to the funeral of a person under the age of 18,” he said. “However, after consulting a local funeral director, she advised me that the whole cost has not been lifted and this will have a bearing more so on the Catholic community, as in the case of Fife, this fee wavering is not applied to the purchase of a new lair for burial.

“The council will not charge for the costs of cremations (£685) or in the case of a burial, for the services of the grave diggers opening and closing the grave (£620), but will still be charging for the purchase of the plot (£644).

“The joint decision by the Scottish Government and local authorities to assist in the reduction of the cost of the funeral of a child is to be welcomed in helping in a small way with the stress brought on at such a difficult and emotional time.”

Paul Stevenson, Scottish president of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), said: “Most local authorities at present don’t charge for opening a lair for under 16. However they do charge for the purchase.

“Their argument is it will probably be used in future for [someone] over 16. This doesn’t wear with me and is not very transparent in a statement that they don’t charge for children’s funerals.”

Cabinet secretary for communities, social security and equalities, Angela Constance, said that ‘a number of details will be worked through’ which including burial lair purchase costs.

“We are working with COSLA to bring forward the implementation of our joint commitment to remove local authority charges for the burial or cremation of those aged under 18,” she said. “To ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach across the whole of Scotland, a number of details will be worked through, including burial lair purchase fees and how to support private burial and cremation providers to remove their charges.

“Our funeral costs plan sets out a range of actions that we are taking to tackle the issue of funeral poverty. These include the publication of statutory guidance on funeral costs setting out measures that burial authorities, crematoriums and funeral directors can take to help bereaved families to understand and make decisions relating to the costs of funerals.”

In a May 30 press release, Ms Constance said that losing a child is ‘one of the most tragic experiences that anyone can go through,’ and that ‘at such difficult times, it is important that we look to support parents and families.’

“We have been actively looking for some time at ways in which we can further support bereaved parents in Scotland with funeral costs,” she added. “Most local authorities do not charge child burial and cremation fees but the picture across Scotland is a mixed one, as local authorities introduce adult burial and cremation charges at different ages across the country.

“We agree with COSLA that no family should have to pay to bury or cremate their child. I am therefore delighted to confirm this agreement between the Scottish Government and COSLA.”

At the time of the announcement, COSLA spokeswoman for community wellbeing, Councillor Elena Whitham, said: “Scottish local authorities have had a longstanding commitment to waiving or discounting their charges for children’s funeral and cremations.

“It is truly awful to have to manage the burden of a funeral or cremation for a child. We are acutely aware that none of us plan for the financial costs because we don’t expect it to happen to our families.

“For some, any charges can lead to high cost borrowing and financial crisis.

“We are pleased to work together with the Scottish Government to ensure that all local authorities can fully commit to removing their charges for the burial or cremation of those aged under 18.”