HC Deb 08 February 1960 vol 617 c4
5. Mr. Millan

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much it would cost in the current year to pay a standard death grant of £12 10s. on the death of men born before 5th July, 1883, and women born before 5th July, 1888.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

About £3 million.

Mr. Millan

In view of the comparatively small sum involved and the fact that it would be a diminishing amount, would the right hon. Gentleman consider extending the payment of death grants to these categories of people, because many of them leave widows or widowers in very poor circumstances?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No, Sir. This death grant, as right hon. Gentlemen opposite will recall, was a new benefit of the National Insurance scheme and neither it nor anything like it was in the old scheme. People in the age groups concerned have in the nature of things paid no contribution at all in the new scheme, and I think it would be quite wrong to extend to them the advantages of a contributory benefit to which they have not contributed.