§ 50. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the big increases in the cost of graves provided by local authorities, examples of which have been given to him; and whether he will take steps to relieve the hardship in the case of people with low incomes.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Ernest Marples)My right hon. Friend is aware that burial costs have risen in recent years as a result of increases in wages and material costs; it is unavoidable. He has written to the hon. Member about the examples he sent him.
§ Mr. DoddsIs anything to be done to help the very old people who have to pay burial fees on three or four times pre-war values when many of the old age pensioners are not getting the death benefit under the scheme of the Act?
§ Mr. MarplesThe examples given by the hon. Member show that internment fees for burial in ordinary graves, exclusive of digging charges, are 12s., and inclusive of such charges are £2 12s. 6d. and £3 15s. My right hon. Friend considers those are not unduly high in all the circumstances and that they do not carry out the accusation of hardship made by the hon. Member.