§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many men and women, born before 5th July, 1893, and 5th July, 1898, respectively, are at present ineligible for the payment of a death grant of £25; what would be the estimated cost, in each of the next five years, of paying a full grant in respect of these persons; and whether she will introduce legislation to this effect.
§ Miss HerbisonI estimate that about a quarter of a million men and rather less than 1¼ million women who were over their minimum pension age at 5th July, 1948, are not eligible for death grant. Nearly a million men and 2¼ million women who at that date were within ten years of their minimum pension age are eligible, subject to satisfying the normal contribution conditions, for a reduced death grant, which is usually £12 10s. To pay a £25 death grant to all these people would result in additional expenditure estimated at about £7 million in the current financial year and in 1966–67, and at about £6 million in each of the three following financial years. I have no proposals for legislation to this effect.