ISSUE OF CREMATION CERTIFICATES AFTER DEATH ABROAD

Early day motion 1405, tabled 12 June 2003 by Edward O'Hara (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House notes that, with even increasing numbers taking foreign holidays abroad, including older people, sadly it is increasingly common for United Kingdom nationals to die abroad; notes further that the issue of cremation certificates in such cases is currently possible only from the Coroner's Department in the Home Office in London; is concerned that this is a cause of inconvenience, distress and often considerable expense to families living at a distance from London at a time when they are already suffering the shock of bereavement in difficult circumstances; questions why this system continues to exist in an age of remote access to documentation; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take the opportunity to correct this anomaly in the forthcoming review of the coroner's system.

Signatures by party: Labour 32, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.