HC Deb 07 July 1967 vol 749 cc2261-2
Mrs. Lena Jeger

I beg to move Amendment 24, in page 11, line 42, to leave out from the beginning to the end of line 44.

The Deputy Chairman

It would be convenient at the same time to take the following Amendments:

Amendment 25, in page 11, line 44, to leave out '15 0 0' and to insert '50 0 0'

Amendment 26, in page 11, line 45, to leave out '30 0 0' and to insert '50 0 0'

Mrs. Jeger

The effect of the Amendment would be to make a more generous provision in the payment of death grants. It has always seemed to me that the age factor in the calculation of the death grant is rather uncharitable and rather mean. I know that it is part of our traditional legislation. In view of the shortness of the time, I simply draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the point and hope that if she cannot meet it now, she will consider it as one of the factors to be taken into account in the review.

Mr. Pardoe

May I say a few words about Amendments 25 and 26. These seek to raise the death grant to£merely to bring it more into line with the present cost of dying. If there is an argument for having a death grant which helps one to get underground, it might at least bear some relation to the cost of doing so.

Mr. Loughlin

Like the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe), I deprecate the high cost of burial. However, this benefit was never intended to be, or accepted as covering, the full cost of burial, but only a contribution towards the cost.

As for those who retired within 10 years of the start of the scheme, for whom only half the full rate of death grant is payable, these matters are complicated by the contributory nature of the scheme. It has been accepted by the Advisory Committee as reasonable, and we cannot at this stage make any promises to increase the grant to the full rate. I regret that I cannot give this promise, and I trust that the Committee will be satisfied with this brief reply.

Mrs. Lena Jeger

I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Schedule agreed to.

Schedules 4 to 7 agreed to.

Bill reported, without Amendment; read the Third time and passed.

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