NAMM say they have gained an admission from Government Minister Hilary Armstrong that cemeteries selling memorials directly to the public have been breaking the law.

The admission came when Andrew Hawley, acting President of the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), and vice-president Mike Critchley gave evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Select Committee in January.

The evidence given in person followed an earlier written submission in response to the Government\'s Green Paper (a consultative document) on Local Government Finance.

NAMM have since had further communications with the Select Committee through their QC, Mark Lowe, to press home the advantage.

The QC is paid for by a NAMM fighting fund set up to oppose the practice of cemeteries selling direct. The fund was launched when NAMM members in Stoke on Trent instigated legal proceedings against their local authority in 1996 to stop the authority selling plaques and vases to the public.