§ 70. Mr. LYLEasked the Pensions Minister the terms of the Regulations governing the payment of the funeral expenses of deceased ex-Service men; whether he has received complaints regarding its inadequacy; and what is the policy of his Department where local war pensions committees decide that any particular funeral cannot be carried out for this sum and thus incur additional outlay?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Sir James Craig)Under certain conditions, which are set out in a Circular of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, local committees are empowered to make a grant up to a maximum of £7 10s. towards the funeral expenses of a discharged soldier or sailor. If local committees make grants in excess of the authorised maximum the irregular payments may be disallowed and surcharged upon the members or officers responsible.
§ Mr. LYLEHow have the Pensions Ministry arrived at the figure£7 10s. as being adequate for a funeral, seeing that in our own district the minimum charge of the British Undertakers' Association, which varies somewhat in different circumstances, is on the average£10 10s., and when the lowest charge is over£10, is it not somewhat niggardly to make the greatest sum payable£7 10s.?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe original grant was£5, and it was felt that an increase was necessary to meet the extra cost, and it was raised to£7 10s. There is considerable difficulty in the matter, because if pressure is brought to have the amount further increased it may affect the whole of the poorer population of the country, as undertakers may say, "The Government have fixed the price of£10, and we cannot charge less than that to anyone." This may react adversely on those who cannot afford that price.
§ Mr. LYLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain cases, instead of charging the local war pensions committee, the administrative body have deducted the charge from money due to widows, and is that in order?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI must have notice of a specific case, as I cannot carry all these matters in my head; but I do not think that that is the case. If a charge has been incurred by the local committee, the local committee is entirely to blame.