§ 87. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for War what amount is allowed by his Department to the relatives of a soldier for a funeral; further, is he aware that the cost of funerals in London has considerably increased recently, and that 386 the present grant does not pay the cost; and whether, in view of this, he will consider as to increasing the amount of the grant for soldiers' funerals?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe amount granted to the relatives of a soldier for a funeral carried out entirely by them is the sum which would actually have been spent if a full military funeral had been arranged in the locality in which the soldier died. If any expense, such as the provision of a coffin or the conveyance of the body to the railway station, has been incurred by the military authorities, this is deducted from the sum due. In view of the fact that the grant is not fixed but varies with the cost of a military contract in each locality, it is not considered that any revision is necessary, as the cost of the military contract is also increased when the local charge for civil funerals is raised.