National Association of Funeral Directors Lobbies for Greater Representation
The National Association of Funeral Directors is taking a hard line on key issues which affect the funeral service and is seeking to effect greater representation for the profession as a whole by lobbying for Government support.
Activity which has been ongoing behind the scenes for the past few months is now beginning to pay dividends, following a positive meeting with David Willetts MP, Conservative spokesman for Work and Pensions and his counterpart within the Liberal Democratic party, David Heath MP. Representing the National Association of Funeral Directors at a meeting in Whitehall on March 12, Nigel Lymn Rose and Alan Slater raised the question of improvements to DSS grants as well as the Association’s concerns about the potential misuse of coroners’ contracts through uncompetitive practices such as predatory pricing.
“David Willetts and David Heath were very supportive of our views, particularly the NAFD’s argument that families should feel they can appoint a funeral director of their own choice and that they are not obliged to accept the funeral director who has moved the body on behalf of the coroner,” said Nigel Lymn Rose.
“We are delighted with the positive outcome of this lobbying session and are now looking to build on this initial achievement by addressing these issues with the front bench spokesperson, Beverly Hughes MP.”
The NAFD is in the process of setting up a meeting with Beverly Hughes MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Home Department with responsibility for Work and Pensions.