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| Child burial fees waived in England | Child burial fees waived in England |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The costs of child burials and cremations are to be waived in England to bring them in line with Wales, the prime minister has announced. | The costs of child burials and cremations are to be waived in England to bring them in line with Wales, the prime minister has announced. |
| Theresa May said the fees will be covered by a new Children's Funeral Fund to help those parents struggling to pay for funerals. | Theresa May said the fees will be covered by a new Children's Funeral Fund to help those parents struggling to pay for funerals. |
| It comes after a campaign by Labour MP Carolyn Harris who had to take out a loan to bury her son. | It comes after a campaign by Labour MP Carolyn Harris who had to take out a loan to bury her son. |
| The Swansea East MP called the decision "dignified and compassionate". | The Swansea East MP called the decision "dignified and compassionate". |
| Child burial fees were abolished throughout Wales in November following the lengthy campaign by Ms Harris whose eight-year-old son Martin was killed in 1989. | Child burial fees were abolished throughout Wales in November following the lengthy campaign by Ms Harris whose eight-year-old son Martin was killed in 1989. |
| 'Dignity and strength' | 'Dignity and strength' |
| In response to the government's announcement, she said: "After so much pressure and so much time, families right across the United Kingdom can know that if they're ever in that terrible, terrible position when they lose a child, that there will now be a pot of money available to make sure that child has a dignified and respectful funeral." | In response to the government's announcement, she said: "After so much pressure and so much time, families right across the United Kingdom can know that if they're ever in that terrible, terrible position when they lose a child, that there will now be a pot of money available to make sure that child has a dignified and respectful funeral." |
| Ms Harris told BBC Radio 5 live she was feeling "a mixed emotion" following the campaign, saying it had been a "very tough, painful journey". | |
| "It's for every parent who has to face what me and my husband had to face," she added. | |
| Mrs May hailed the "dignity and strength" of Ms Harris, adding: "In the raw pain of immediate loss, it cannot be right that grieving parents should have to worry about how to meet the funeral costs for a child they hoped to see grow into adulthood. | Mrs May hailed the "dignity and strength" of Ms Harris, adding: "In the raw pain of immediate loss, it cannot be right that grieving parents should have to worry about how to meet the funeral costs for a child they hoped to see grow into adulthood. |
| "In the darkest moment of any parent's life there is little light - but there can be support. | "In the darkest moment of any parent's life there is little light - but there can be support. |
| "That is why I have asked for the Children's Funeral Fund to be set up in England; for Carolyn, in memory of her son Martin, and in support of all those parents overwhelmed by such harrowing loss." | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the fund was "welcome and wonderful news". | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the fund was "welcome and wonderful news". |
| He also paid tribute to Ms Harris' campaign, saying: "No parent who has gone through the heart-breaking experience of losing a child should be left struggling to cover the cost of a funeral." | He also paid tribute to Ms Harris' campaign, saying: "No parent who has gone through the heart-breaking experience of losing a child should be left struggling to cover the cost of a funeral." |