Request Can you please list how many public health funerals (or so called “pauper” funerals) your council has organised, in the following years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Do you carry out an attended or unattended funeral? Do you return ashes to family or friends if wished and, if so, under what circumstances? If you do return ashes do you charge for that and how much? What evidence do you require to carry out a burial, if that isn’t the default funerary method? Response 2018/19 - 9, 2019/20 - 12, 2020/21 - 10, 2021/22 - 15, 2022/23 - 8 Attended Ashes can be returned to the family only (not friends) if requested. There is no charge, but families must make their own arrangements to collect the ashes from the crematorium. Either written evidence, ie written request in a Will or End of Life Care plan, or evidence of the person’s religious beliefs. Back to top