The average cost of a burial in London is nine times that of the average cost of a burial in Northern Ireland according to new studies.

Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden says she is shocked by the rising fees as data also shows that non- residents of a borough are charged triple the amount of fees.

Speaking at the Parliamentary debate yesterday ( October 24), Ms McDonagh said: “I think it is absolutely unjustifiable that, across the country, local authorities double, triple or even quadruple their burial fees for non- residents of that borough, regardless of how long they have lived there and even if they own a grave space in that borough, with nearly every council charging extra for non-residents."

The data shows that the average burial fee in London is £3,806.

Ms McDonagh added: “Astronomical burial charges are simply exploitative at a time of grief. It is high time that this tax on grief is put to rest.”

Last year burial costs increased by an average of 5.0% nationwide and this year burial costs have already increased by 5.9 per cent.

According to the date the most expensive burial is in Highgate Cemetery, North London at £18,325.