The choice to register deaths remotely in England and Wales was universally agreed to have been one of the positive outcomes of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and were something that the funeral profession, Government and consumers all expressed a desire to protect.
However, despite an attempt by Government to secure their long-term retention, through a Private Members Bill brought forward by Solihull area MP for Saqib Bhatti (Meriden, Cons) for which the NAFD prepared the ground by briefing all Westminster MPs, without a suitable legislative framework, the ability to register a death remotely ended in April 2022 with the sunset of the Act in Parliament. Finally, the government’s Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill has been published and it includes provision for deaths to be registered remotely.
NAFD member feedback on this topic has consistently emphasized the importance of securing its reintroduction and it has been one of the highest priorities among the 41+ issues it is currently campaigning on, on behalf of members.
The NAFD’s persistent efforts throughout 2021 and 2022 continued, both before and after the ending of remote registration, and included letter writing, briefing MPs, raising it at the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Westminster and Cross-Party Group in the Senedd, and making the case repeatedly in the national media – as well as in private briefings with relevant ministers.
Andrew Judd, Chief Executive of the National Association of Funeral Directors, said: “This is another huge campaign success for the NAFD – our second in quick succession – after a huge amount of work by the team and an important step forward in the quest to give families choice about how they register a death in England and Wales.
“I know from speaking to members how important this issue is and this is a core benefit of NAFD membership, we are relentless in pursuit of outcomes that support our members in running their businesses and providing care to bereaved families.”
Rachel Bradburne, Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the NAFD, explained the next steps: “The Bill was read for the first time in Parliament in March, and we now await a date for the Second Reading. This new Bill has been brought forward by the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – and is a far more secure legislative vehicle than the previous attempt, giving it a greater chance of success. We plan to brief MPs once again, as the Bill enters the committee stage of its’ passage into law and we will keep members updated on its progress.”