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The CMA has published a revised timetable for the completion of its market investigation into the funeral sector, having extended the statutory timetable by six months & suspended consultation on its working papers in March, due to COVID-19.

The final completion date for the market investigation (27 March 2021) remains unchanged. The NAFD understands that this can only be altered by amending primary legislation in Parliament, which is highly unlikely to happen within the relevant time period.

NAFD Chief Executive Officer, Jon Levett, said: “This lack of flexibility in the face of a national emergency of unprecedented scale is incredibly frustrating and, in our view, highlights a serious flaw in the statutory process.

“Our view is that it is vitally important to ensure there is as much time as is possible for meaningful consultation on the CMA’s Provisional Decision report – as this will be the most critical consultation stage of the investigation process. Therefore, we accept that time savings will need to be achieved between now and July/August, when the Provisional Decision Report is due to be published.

“We’ve spoken to the CMA and stressed our concerns that meaningful consultation with individual businesses is unlikely to be possible in the limited time available, particularly given the unusually challenging circumstances we find ourselves in. It has acknowledged that the funeral sector continues to be under significant pressure and that the important job of responding to its consultation process will add an additional burden, at a time when funeral firms are also trying to understand the medium and long-term impact on their business that COVID-19 has had.”