Alkaline Hydrolysis (water cremation) regulation: consultation analysis report

3. Profile of Respondents

The Scottish Government was keen to gather the views of the public as well as funeral directors, local authorities, private burial and cremation authorities, funeral industry trade body representatives and any other groups or individuals with a working knowledge of funeral directing, burial, cremation or the wider funeral industry. Responses were received from all groups.

Most responses (58) were received though the consultation hub and a further six (6) were received by email. A small number of responses were accepted after the official closing date, on request of the consultees. One non-standard response was received that offered a statement and did not answer the consultation questions directly. Where data from this response was considered relevant to specific consultation questions, the data was included in the analysis of those questions. All other data from this non-standard response was analysed in Question 16.

Of the sixty-four (64) respondents, (n=24, 37%) were submitted on behalf of an organisation and (n=40, 63%) were from individuals. Of those who identified as ‘individuals’, the majority (n=31, 78%) said they did not work in the funeral sector. Organisation respondents were asked to identify which organisation they were responding on behalf of and the type of work the organisation was involved in.

Table 1 provides further detail about this. Responses were received from those representing funeral directing organisations, burial and cremation authorities, local government, relevant trade bodies, faith organisations, health bodies and third sector organisations. Responses from individuals included both those working within, and outwith, the funeral sector.