Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case. Read indexed debates, questions, statements and early day motions, with links to the original parliamentary records.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government intends to provide a full response to the Fuller Inquiry's recommendations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the Fuller Inquiry, particularly in relation to a statutory regulatory scheme for funeral directors; and (b) what consideration has been given to the potential merits of requiring that individuals working with the deceased in funeral homes and other non-NHS settings be subject to a DBS check or similar vetting procedure.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 1 September, available at the following link:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-09-01/hcws295
We will provide further updates in due course, including on progress in implementing the recommendations in the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government Interim Update on Progress, when he plans to respond to recommendations 29, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 71 and 72.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 1 September, available at the following link:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-09-01/hcws295
We will provide further updates in due course, including on progress in implementing the recommendations in the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department collects annually from Local Authorities on the provision of cremation and burial services; and if he will publish that data.
The Government does not collect this information and has therefore not done any assessments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading the cross-government response to the Fuller Inquiry and will publish a full response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, including consideration of the funeral sector, by summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protection provided by at-need funeral, cremation and burial services offered by Local Authorities.
The Government does not collect this information and has therefore not done any assessments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading the cross-government response to the Fuller Inquiry and will publish a full response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, including consideration of the funeral sector, by summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the value for money of at-need funeral, cremation and burial services offered by Local Authorities.
The Government does not collect this information and has therefore not done any assessments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading the cross-government response to the Fuller Inquiry and will publish a full response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, including consideration of the funeral sector, by summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department collects annually from Local Authorities on the provision of pre-need and at-need funeral services; and if he will publish that data.
The Government does not collect this information and has therefore not done any assessments.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading the cross-government response to the Fuller Inquiry and will publish a full response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, including consideration of the funeral sector, by summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing minimum standards for the funeral sector.
Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the funeral sector. This includes consideration of minimum standards, potential regulatory arrangements, and funding models.
The Government has committed to publishing a response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those on improving standards for the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on consumer protection measures for the funeral sector.
The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with the Department of Health and Social Care to consider consumer protection issues in the funeral sector, including in relation to the Fuller Inquiry’s recommendations. The Government will publish its response to the Fuller Inquiry in Summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will create a statutory regulator to oversee the funeral sector.
Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the funeral sector. This includes consideration of minimum standards, potential regulatory arrangements, and funding models.
The Government has committed to publishing a response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those on improving standards for the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential funding models for any future regulation of the funeral sector.
Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the funeral sector. This includes consideration of minimum standards, potential regulatory arrangements, and funding models.
The Government has committed to publishing a response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those on improving standards for the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has any plans to provide for single oversight of the funeral industry and the handling of bodies and funerals.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-Government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased in all settings, including the funeral sector, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Business on the regulation of the funeral sector.
The death management process, including the care of the deceased through to burial or cremation, engages the policy and/or operational responsibilities of a number of Departments and arm’s length bodies. This includes the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In addition, its delivery is reliant on a wide range of providers from within the public, private, faith and not-for-profit sectors.
This Department has worked closely within government and with the wider funeral sector in response to the horrific incident involving Legacy Independent Funeral Directors and other similar, equally disturbing, cases. In its Phase 2 report published in July 2025 (David Fuller inquiry: phase 2 report - GOV.UK), the Fuller Inquiry called for the Government to urgently introduce independent statutory regulation to safeguard the security and dignity of those who have died. Going forward, the Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased in all settings, including the funeral sector, supported by the Departments I have specifically mentioned above.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that funeral directors carry out the lawful burial or cremation of bodies following the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.
The death management process, including the care of the deceased through to burial or cremation, engages the policy and/or operational responsibilities of a number of Departments and arm’s length bodies. This includes the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In addition, its delivery is reliant on a wide range of providers from within the public, private, faith and not-for-profit sectors.
This Department has worked closely within government and with the wider funeral sector in response to the horrific incident involving Legacy Independent Funeral Directors and other similar, equally disturbing, cases. In its Phase 2 report published in July 2025 (David Fuller inquiry: phase 2 report - GOV.UK), the Fuller Inquiry called for the Government to urgently introduce independent statutory regulation to safeguard the security and dignity of those who have died. Going forward, the Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased in all settings, including the funeral sector, supported by the Departments I have specifically mentioned above.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which Government departments and agencies are responsible for bodies of the departed from death through to (a) burial and (b) cremation.
The death management process, including the care of the deceased through to burial or cremation, engages the policy and/or operational responsibilities of a number of Departments and arm’s length bodies. This includes the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. In addition, its delivery is reliant on a wide range of providers from within the public, private, faith and not-for-profit sectors.
This Department has worked closely within government and with the wider funeral sector in response to the horrific incident involving Legacy Independent Funeral Directors and other similar, equally disturbing, cases. In its Phase 2 report published in July 2025 (David Fuller inquiry: phase 2 report - GOV.UK), the Fuller Inquiry called for the Government to urgently introduce independent statutory regulation to safeguard the security and dignity of those who have died. Going forward, the Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased in all settings, including the funeral sector, supported by the Departments I have specifically mentioned above.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures his Department is considering to protect the dignity of human bodies in the context of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-Government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased in all settings, including the funeral sector, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made towards establishing statutory regulation of the funeral sector.
The Department of Health and Social Care is leading on co-ordinating cross-Government work to consider options for raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Government has committed to publishing its full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report in summer 2026. This will set out the Government’s position on all 75 recommendations, including those relating to raising standards in relation to the care and treatment of the deceased.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70519, on Public Inquiries, what has been the total public cost to date of the Fuller Inquiry.
The total cost of the Fuller Inquiry from its commencement in November 2021 to the end of July 2025 is £3,767,395.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of standards of environmental health particular to funeral directors as settings which could impact public health.
The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.
Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has the department made of the adequacy of environmental health inspections with regard to the case of Elkin & Bell Funeral Directors, Portsmouth Crown Court 2026.
The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.
Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data does the department collect on environmental health breaches associated with a) poor hygiene, b) storage of bodies or c) handling practices in funeral premises.
The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.
Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has the Department made of the potential merits of funeral directors becoming a a) licensable or b) inspectable activity under existing environmental health frameworks.
The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.
Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has the department made of possible regulatory gaps concerning funeral directors with particular regard to a) environmental health and b) public safety.
The Government offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the events referred to in these questions.
Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the recruitment and management of Environmental Health Officers to fulfil their statutory obligations. Environmental Health Officers have no statutory role relating to funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment or collected data on regulatory gaps, environmental health standards, or the merits of inspection relating to funeral directors, but are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who are leading the government response to the Fuller Inquiry. An interim update on the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations was published in December 2025, and DHSC has committed to publishing the Government’s full response in summer 2026. That response will set out the Government’s position on any potential future changes to oversight or regulation of the funeral sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the additional cost of requiring the Human Tissue Authority to regulate the care of corpses throughout the death pathway including in funeral homes.
The Department has not made an assessment of the additional cost of requiring the Human Tissue Authority to regulate the care of the deceased throughout the death pathway, including in funeral homes.
The Government is considering the full range of options to strengthen and improve standards to safeguard the security and dignity of the deceased. In this context, an interim update on progress with our response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report was published 16 December 2025, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-inquiry-government-interim-update-on-phase-2-recommendations
We will provide a full response by summer 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what conversations he has had with the Department of Health and Social Care about the Human Tissue Authority’s role in regulating the care of corpses throughout the death pathway including in funeral homes.
The Government is considering the full range of options to strengthen and improve standards to safeguard the security and dignity of the deceased, particularly in the context of a full response to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report which will be provided by summer 2026.
Our consideration has included discussions about a potential role for a relevant partner organisation such as the Human Tissue Authority.