Shrewsbury MP backs Government pledge on burial and cremation law

The subject was raised in the House of Commons by Mr Kawczynski, who asked if the Government had plans to review the law.

And Simon Hughes MP, the Secretary of State for Justice, said when the Department of Health implements its death certification reforms, the Ministry of Justice will amend its cremation regulations.

It comes as an independent inquiry, commissioned by Shropshire Council, is currently being carried out into infant cremations at Emstrey Crematorium.

Mr Kawczynski said: "I am very encouraged by the response and hope it will engage with its findings.

"The findings of the inquiry will be published during the General Election campaign, and I hope whichever party is in office will respond to the inquiry.

"I am keen to arrange for affected parents to meet with the minister."

It comes as bereaved parents are calling for baby cremations to be suspended at Shrewsbury's crematorium until there can be a guarantee that ashes will be returned to grieving families.

The Action for Ashes group says there are other crematoria that could hold the services while changes in practice are made at Emstrey Crematorium.

It follows the revelation that grieving families were not given back the ashes of their babies.

Glen Perkins, of Action for Ashes, was told that there were no ashes after the cremation of his baby four-month-old daughter Olivia in 2007.

A spokesman for Shropshire Council said the authority had already commissioned an independent inquiry into infant cremations at Emstrey.

He added it would be inappropriate for the council to comment while the inquiry is underway and until it has received the report and its recommendations.

The inquiry will look at 60 relevant cases.

A statement from The Co-operative Funeralcare said: "The Co-operative Funeralcare took over the operation of Emstrey Crematorium in 2011. Following the installation of new equipment at the site, we have returned ashes in all cases for baby cremations. Whilst this is the case, our policy has been drawn up to reflect industry recommendations provided by the FBCA, Infant Cremation Commission and ICCM.

"In line with this, our policy advises families that we cannot fully guarantee ashes. We recognise that the death of a baby is particularly difficult for any family and we continue to offer our full support to the ongoing Inquiry."