Cross Party Group for Funerals and Bereavement

Annual Report and Financial Statement

2025

Membership of the group

Senedd members

· Mark Isherwood MS

· Mike Hedges MS

· Jane Dodds MS

· Russell George MS

· Darren Millar MS

· Llyr Gruffydd MS

External members

Membership of the Cross-Party Group encompasses a wide range of bereavement-focused organisations and representatives of the funeral profession. These include:

· National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)

· Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)

· Cardiff City Council

· Cruse Wales

· 2Wish

· Marie Curie

· Greener Globe Funeral Standard

· Churches together in Wales (Cytun)

· PR Blatchly & Son

· White Rose Funerals

· Phillip Tom & Sons

· Gwilym C. Price Son & Daughters

· Muslim Council for Wales

· The Woolen Cwtch Company

· Humanists UK

· Papyrus

Office Holders

Mark Isherwood MS (Chair) – elected July 2024

Rebecca Aylott, National Association of Funeral Directors (Secretary) – elected July 2024

Meetings held by the Group

The Cross-Party Group has met four times in the period from July 2024 to June 2025.

These meetings can be summarised as follows:

19 July 2024

The Annual General Meeting (AGM), held via Teams, was rescheduled for this date from the previous month, as no other members of the Senedd had been present. Mark Isherwood MS was nominated by Janet Finch-Saunders MS to continue as Chair, and this was seconded by Darren Millar MS. Mark Isherwood MS was duly elected as Chair. Following Deborah Smith’s notice to step down as Secretary of the Group, Mark Isherwood MS opened up the floor for nominations and Rebecca Aylott declared her interest. Darren Millar MS proposed Rebecca Aylott’s nomination as Secretary, and this was seconded by Janet Finch-Saunders MS. Rebecca Aylott was duly elected as Secretary.

Mark Isherwood MS confirmed that the AGM minutes and documents would be published in accordance with the rules for the operation of Cross-Party Groups, including official notification of the change in Secretary.

09 October 2024

At this hybrid meeting, the Group received an update from the NAFD and SAIF on the statutory implementation of the Medical Examiner Scheme, which came into effect in England and Wales on 09 September 2024.

The Group also discussed matters arising, in addition to an issue raised at the previous meeting by Janet Finch-Saunders MS, regarding Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the availability of mortuary staff.

Before closing the meeting, the Group also received an update regarding the Charter for Families Bereaved by Public Tragedy, Marie Curie’s publication ‘Time to Care’, and the announcement of the UK Covid Inquiry’s module 10 regarding the impact on society.

10 December 2024

Guest speakers from the Law Commission of England and Wales were invited to present to the Group on their project ‘Burial, Cremation, and New Funerary Methods’, with discussion of several topics, including the reclamation of old graves, burial ground maintenance, memorial rights, cremation, exhumation, and unclaimed ashes. Members of the Group were encouraged to submit a response to the Law Commission’s public consultation on burial and cremation, which closed for responses in January 2025.

02 April 2025

In April 2025, Mark Isherwood MS, chair of the Cross-Party Group for Hospices and Palliative Care and the Cross-Party Group for Funerals and Bereavement, hosted a joint meeting of the two groups. Baroness Ilora Finlay presented on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and its possible implications for palliative and end of life care in Wales. Dr Jason Shannon, Lead Medical Examiner for Wales, provided an updated on the Medical Examiner Scheme in Wales, its role and responsibilities, and how it fits with the wider strategy of bereavement care in Wales.

Meetings with professional lobbyists, and voluntary or charitable organisations

During the period July 2024-June 2025 the Group met with, or invited presentations/updates from, the following organisations:

· The Law Commission of England and Wales

· The National Association of Funeral Directors

· The Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

· Hospice UK

· The Medical Examiner Service for Wales

Annual Financial Statement

Expenses

During the period July 2024 – June 2025 the following expenses have been incurred:

· £135.96 in tea/coffee services provided by Compass Group (on behalf of Ty Hywel), paid by the National Association for Funeral Directors, for the October 2024 and December 2024 meetings.

· £81.06 in tea/coffee services provided by Compass Group (on behalf of Ty Hywel), paid jointly by the National Association for Funeral Directors and Hospice UK, for the April 2025 joint meeting.

Benefits

Group secretariat and meeting costs are funded by the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Hospitality received

None to report.