Baby ashes scandal: New cremation laws come into force
New regulations on cremations following Shropshire's baby ashes scandal have come into force today.
Last month a ministerial statement was made by Doctor Phillip Lee, parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, and minister for victims, youth and family justice.
In it, he said new there would be new regulations, following the scandal and campaign from Action 4 Ashes.
Glen Perkins, leader of the campaign group, began fighting for changes to the law after his four-month-old daughter Olivia died in 2007.
The family was never given her ashes, and an inquiry found 51 families were not given ashes following cremation of their children at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury.
In his statement, Dr Lee said: "I am today announcing that new regulations regarding cremation in England and Wales have been laid before Parliament.
"The Cremation (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 will come into effect on October 1.
"We are making these changes following our recent response to our consultation on cremation, published on July 7, in which we committed to make a number of changes to infant cremation regulations and practice.
"The regulations laid today introduce a statutory definition of ashes.
"They also remove the current requirement that cremation authorities must keep original paper records for two years, even though they have also made electronic copies of those records.
"These changes will provide clarity for bereaved parents at a difficult time in their lives, and modernise processes for crematoria.
"In addition I would like to announce that, as also promised in the consultation response, we have now set up a National Cremation Working Group.
"The group is made up of representatives from the cremation and funeral industries, voluntary organisations who support bereaved parents, medical professionals and other government departments with an interest in cremation.
"In the coming months it will provide expert input into our work to further improve cremation legislation and practice.
"The group's first priority will be amending statutory application forms regarding options for disposal of ashes, and bringing the cremation of foetuses of less than 24 weeks' gestation into the remit of the cremation regulations."
