§ 16. Dr. Gilbertasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to introduce a form of death grant with respect to stillborn children.
§ Mr. DeanNo, Sir. We adhere to the view which has always been held that this would not be appropriate.
§ Dr. GilbertIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I am rather disappointed at that reply? Would he think again about this, bearing in mind that there are only 10,000 of these sad cases every year and, therefore, the payment of a death grant at the full infant rate would only amount to about 100,000? Would he not accept that the degree of distress to the woman in these cases is just as great as if the infant had survived for only a few days and then died?
§ Mr. DeanI am sure the House will sympathise with the parents of stillborn 1062 children but the fact is that in the priorities which we must set the cost of a funeral in these cases is substantially less than in the case of young children.