funerals

The request was successful.

Dear Highland Council,

I am undertaking a study on the numbers of Public Health/Welfare Funerals undertaken by LA's in the UK. I would appreciate it if you would provide answers to the following FOI request.

1. The total number of public health funerals (where the deceased
has no relatives or there is no one else willing to pay) that your LA has undertaken for the financial years 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13?

2. The number of public health funerals that your LA has
undertaken by gender for the past 3 financial years?

3. The number of public health funerals that your LA has
undertaken by age for the past 3 financial years?
Since April 2010, how many cases have there been where family and
friends refuse to finance or make arrangements for their relatives
funeral?

4. How much have the burials/cremations cost the LA broken down
by year for the last three financial years? This cost information
does not need to include administrative or staff costs, and before
any costs are claimed back by the local authority from the
deceased’s estate

5. How much does your trust typically (average cost) pay for a
Public Health Funeral?

6. What does your LA provide at a Public Health Funeral?

7. What relationship do you have with your local NHS Trust
regarding funerals of this nature?

8. Have you observed any of the following over the last three
years?

• Higher numbers or people dying without any income or assets
• Higher numbers of people dying with family or friends unable to
contribute to the costs of a funeral
• Higher numbers of people dying with family or friends unwilling
to contribute to the costs of a funeral
• Higher numbers of people dying with no friends or family

Yours faithfully,

paul ogden

Highland Council

FOI Request 567655

Dear Mr Ogden ,

We acknowledge receipt of your request for information under the Freedom
of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations received on
08/04/2013.

The Highland Council will endeavour to respond within the legislative time
scale of 20 working days from date of receipt unless further clarification
of your request is required.

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The Highland Council

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Angus Hogg, Highland Council

4 Attachments

Dear Paul

Please find attached details recorded in respect of burials undertaken by
Highland Council where it has a duty under the National Assistance Act to
bury or cremate the body of a person where it appears that no suitable
arrangements are otherwise being made for the period  requested.
Information on these sheets will answer your questions 1-4.

In the Inverness area where the majority of cases are dealt with, there is
a long term contract with an undertaker to carry out these
burials/cremations. Outlying areas arrange burials with local undertakers.
Current contract cost is £176 per funeral and £373 for the cremation which
makes up the figure of £549. No officer time is included.

Whilst we don’t have a breakdown of specific funeral costs as requested,
in obtaining competitive tenders for the provision of this service, the
undernoted is specified.

Supply of a polished wood coffin with suitable waterproof lining, handles
and nameplate.

Supply of a robe, hearse and attendance

Arrange for the presence of a minister (if necessary)

Identify any additional charges, which might apply, for example to the
removal of the remains to the funeral directors' chapel for a mileage rate
for the hearse or other vehicle.

With regards to NHS trust – they don’t have any dealings with Public
Health burials and we have not looked at statistics in respect of question
8

Any further information please call.

 

Angus Hogg

Principal Environmental Health Officer

TEC Services,

38 Harbour Road, 

Inverness.

IV1 1UF

 

01463 228743

 

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Dear Highland Council, I am undertaking a study on the numbers of Public
Health/Welfare Funerals undertaken by LA's in the UK. I would appreciate
it if you would provide answers to the following FOI request. 1. The total
number of public health funerals (where the deceased has no relatives or
there is no one else willing to pay) that your LA has undertaken for the
financial years 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13? 2. The number of public health
funerals that your LA has undertaken by gender for the past 3 financial
years? 3. The number of public health funerals that your LA has undertaken
by age for the past 3 financial years? Since April 2010, how many cases
have there been where family and friends refuse to finance or make
arrangements for their relatives funeral? 4. How much have the
burials/cremations cost the LA broken down by year for the last three
financial years? This cost information does not need to include
administrative or staff costs, and before any costs are claimed back by
the local authority from the deceased’s estate 5. How much does your trust
typically (average cost) pay for a Public Health Funeral? 6. What does
your LA provide at a Public Health Funeral? 7. What relationship do you
have with your local NHS Trust regarding funerals of this nature? 8. Have
you observed any of the following over the last three years? • Higher
numbers or people dying without any income or assets • Higher numbers of
people dying with family or friends unable to contribute to the costs of a
funeral • Higher numbers of people dying with family or friends unwilling
to contribute to the costs of a funeral • Higher numbers of people dying
with no friends or family Yours faithfully, paul ogden
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Unless related to the business of the Highland Council, the views or
opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the sender and do not
necessarily reflect those of The Highland Council, or associated bodies,
nor does this e-mail form part of any contract unless so stated.
Mura h-eil na beachdan a tha air an cur an cèill sa phost-d seo a'
buntainn ri gnothachas Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, 's ann leis an neach
fhèin a chuir air falbh e a tha iad, is chan eil iad an-còmhnaidh a'
riochdachadh beachdan na Comhairle, no buidhnean buntainneach, agus chan
eil am post-d seo na phàirt de chunnradh sam bith mura h-eil sin air
innse.

References

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1. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/highlandeh