Leeds Council spent £100,000 plus on paupers’ funerals last year, new research reveals

Public health funerals, or ‘paupers’ funerals’ are arranged by councils when someone dies with no traceable family, or when no-one is able or willing to pay for a service.

But insurance company Royal London says a lack of minimum standards means some grieving relatives are treated unfairly, by not being allowed to attend a funeral, or to have ashes returned to them.

Leeds City Council spent £114,788 on 57 public health funerals in 2018-19, according to data the firm received via Freedom of Information requests.

It means the average cost was £2,014 – above the national average of £1,507. The 383 councils that responded spent £6.3 million on 4,000 plus funerals over the period.

Fourteen councils said they do not allow family to attend funerals. It also found 21 councils by default do not return ashes to bereaved families, and 18 charge for ashes to be returned.

Louise Eaton-Terry, of Royal London, said it is “incredibly sad” when families seek a public health funeral:

“But when some families are refused the ashes of loved ones or are not allowed to attend the funeral, it is clear they are being treated unfairly.

“We’re calling for legislation on minimum standards for public health funerals to ensure everyone can attend a funeral and collect their loved one’s ashes.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: “We are aware of concerns around the different services local authorities provide for public health funerals and are considering the matter.”

A Local Government Association spokesman said that pressures on council budgets and increased numbers of ‘paupers’ funerals’ drive them to limit the costs they incur in arranging them.