John Mann has called this evening’s Adjournment Debate so that he can reveal the scandal on health and safety in the country's graveyards.

John was first made aware of the issue last year when gravestones in his Bassetlaw constituency were being staked by the council without prior consultation with bereaved families.  There were graveyards where a vast majority of the gravestones had been staked causing great distress to many of his constituents especially as they are having to pay out to put right the damage that has been caused.

Late last year John was trained as a gravestone “topple tester” to see if this was an issue of over zealousness on the part of the council or there were justifiable health and safety concerns but  he learnt that this was not just a problem faced by the  residents of Bassetlaw but an issue that is causing distress, upset  and expense throughout the country.  Further investigation has revealed that there are over a million staked gravestones in this country.

If you live in Bassetlaw, and the gravestone of one of your loved ones has been affected by this scheme, please get in touch with John's office.

• Retford Cemetery and Staked Graves - The Full Picture
• John Mann in the Worksop Guardian: 9 May 2008
• John Mann's Parliamentary debate on health and safety in graveyards
• John Mann in the Worksop Guardian: 29 February 2008
• MP rejects toppling grave fears
• John Mann in the Worksop Guardian: 12 October 2007