Private Memorials

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 31 October 2005.

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Photo of Brooks Newmark Brooks Newmark Conservative, Braintree 2:30, 31 October 2005

What steps he is taking to provide local authorities with guidance on (a) the circumstances and (b) the manner in which it is appropriate to interfere with private memorials on the ground of safety; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Anne McGuire Anne McGuire The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 gives local authorities that act as burial authorities wide powers to carry out whatever they consider necessary or desirable for the proper management, regulation and control of cemeteries, and specifically to put and keep in order any tombstone or other memorial. In addition, a considerable amount of guidance on memorial management and safety standards has been published by the relevant professional and representative bodies.

Photo of Brooks Newmark Brooks Newmark Conservative, Braintree

Does the Minister appreciate that a vicious circle of referrals and consultations has developed since the issue first came to light in 2000? For the past five years, people such as my constituent, Margaret Archer, have had to suffer interference with the graves of their loved ones and local councils have had to bear the brunt of criticism for a policy that they did not choose to initiate. Why have the Government taken so long to produce clear advice?

Photo of Anne McGuire Anne McGuire The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

May I first put the situation in context? I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware of it. In the past six years, serious accidents, including three fatalities, have occurred in graveyards through memorials toppling over. In 2000, guidance was drawn up to highlight a range of options to make memorials safe. The Health and Safety Commission chairman was concerned that some local authorities were perhaps being over-zealous in their interpretation of the guidelines. I note that he wrote to local authorities. There have been significant difficulties in trying to form a consensus on what needs to be done, not least because of the spectrum of organisations, ranging from large local authorities to small churchyards, that manage burial grounds. We await advice from the advisory group and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman and the House will be advised in due course.