Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors: annual report 2024 to 2025

Conclusion

27. The implementation of the Funeral Director Code of Practice on 1^st March 2025, along with the other Regulations referred to earlier in this report, has been widely welcomed by the general public, and by the vast majority of those within the funeral industry.

28. Whilst a number of other parts of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) act 2016 have still to be implemented, work is actively ongoing in respect of a number of these including Licensing of Funeral Directors and Regulation regarding the introduction of Alkaline Hydrolysis (also known as water cremation). The Senior Inspector is a member of both these Working Groups.

29. National Records of Scotland shows there to have been a slight decrease in the total number of deaths in Scotland in 2024 (62,291 down from 63,445 in 2023).

30. As a number of new crematoria have opened in Scotland in recent years (average of almost one each year since 2015) there has understandably been a slight reduction in the numbers of cremations carried out at a few located closest to these.

31. Whilst the overall number of cremations has reduced slightly, direct cremations with no service has been on the increase over the past few years, noted particularly following the Covid-19 restrictions.

32. There are now a number of companies in Scotland who specialise in and only deal with direct cremations.

33. There are many reasons given for bereaved choosing this option, and whilst cost appears amongst them, it is by no means the only reason.

34. Costs for this type of cremation vary greatly around the country, with advertised costs of between £350 and £820 respectively, rather surprising given that the process is almost identical irrespective of the location.

35. Whilst a number of direct cremations are sub-contracted to other funeral directors, this has not been reported to the Senior Inspector as being an issue.

36. Enquiries relating to funeral costs are often raised with Local Authorities, and the Senior Inspector has been told by one Local Authority that they deal with many enquiries about Section 87 funerals (Section 87 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 – Burial or Cremation: Duty of Local Authority) and although the number of Sec 87 funerals has not increased over the past year, many of those enquiries concerns families who do not meet the criteria for entitlement of the Funeral Support Payment, but nevertheless claim they cannot afford the funeral costs.

37. To avoid funeral costs remaining unpaid, a number of Funeral Directors now ask for a substantial deposit or payment in full at time of booking.

38. There is no doubt that costs and poverty are behind many of the family disputes referred to earlier in this report.

39. As regards the coming year the Senior Inspector anticipates that whilst it may take several months for all of these legislative changes to be fully effective (appointment of Inspectors, inspections etc) he considers that timescale will not have any detrimental impact, as in general terms the funeral industry in Scotland is already performing to a high standard, and well placed to continue to service the needs of the general public.

40. In closing the Senior Inspector would like to record his appreciation and thanks for the assistance and co-operation afforded to him throughout the period of this report.

Respectfully submitted

Robert Swanson QPM

Senior Inspector of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors

5th May 2025.