§ 33. Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will review the death grants available to the more elderly retirement pensioners.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Miss Margaret Herbison)I assume that the hon. Lady has in mind the provisions for death grant which were made in 1948 in relation to people who were then within ten years of pensionable age. These form part of the transitional arrangements made on the introduction of the new scheme, and I do not think it would be appropriate to review them now.
§ Miss QuennellIs the right hon. Lady not aware that, in the intervening period, there have been considerable changes in costs and that certain anomalies have become apparent? Since this worries some of the pensioners, will she reconsider it?
§ Miss HerbisonThe whole question of death grants for the more elderly was examined by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in 1956. The Report of the Committee clearly said that these transitional arrangements were generous and concluded that there was no sufficient reason to recommend any further concession. In response to the letter the hon. Lady sent to me, I examined this matter again very carefully but came to the conclusion that the advice given by the N.I.A.C. still holds good today.