§ 42. Mr. Rossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would need to be added to the death grant presently payable in respect of an adult to retain the value it had when it was raised to its present level.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterOn the basis of the Retail Prices Index, about £2 6s.
§ Mr. RossIn this case, rather than taking the cost of living index, would it not be more relevant to have a special "cost of dying" index, in order to see if we could bring this matter much more into relation with the purposes for which it was intended? The £25 is inadequate at present. Will he consider the point?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe only increase made since its origin in 1946, when it was a new benefit, was the 29 one that I took through the House in 1957, operating in 1958. I will certainly consider the claims of this benefit as against the claims of others, from the point of view of priority, when the time comes.