Campaigning MP urges Chancellor to set up children’s funeral fund

Philip Hammond has been urged to help grieving parents whose “lives are forever blighted in darkness” by establishing a children’s funeral fund.

Carolyn Harris (pictured) said such a fund was “the dignified, compassionate and sympathetic thing to do” to help parents struggling to pay for their child’s funeral.

The Chancellor said the Labour MP should make representations on the issue ahead of the Budget in the autumn.

Ms Harris has long campaigned on the issue, with her eight-year-old son Martin having been killed in a car accident in 1989.

Speaking in the Commons, she said: “Why is the Chancellor refusing to share the light at the end of his tunnel with grieving parents who are struggling to pay for their children’s funerals?

“Their lives are forever blighted in darkness. A children’s funeral fund is the dignified, compassionate and sympathetic thing to do.”

Mr Hammond replied: “She’s a tireless campaigner on this issue and both I and the Prime Minister have heard her pleas on behalf of parents in this terrible situation.

“I’m sure she does recognise that this is not a fiscal event. There have been no fiscal announcements today.

“But I’m absolutely certain she will want to make representation to me ahead of the Budget in the autumn.”

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