Funeral Costs (Hansard, 2 February 1982)

§ Mr. Ernie Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average cost of a funeral for a person aged 17 years and under in 1981.

§ Mr. Rossi
Most of the costs of a funeral will not vary with the age of the deceased, but with the scale of services which are provided. No recent estimate is available which distinguishes the funeral costs of children and adults.

§ Mr. Ernie Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average cost of a funeral in 1981 both for burial and cremation.

§ Mr. Rossi
From the information available to us the average costs of a funeral vary within a range of £300 to £600 according to location and to the range of services required. The costs of a funeral by burial tend to be slightly higher than the costs of a funeral by cremation for the reasons set out in chapter 3 of the DHSS research report No. 6, "Families Funerals and Finances", published by HMSO in 1980; and in chapter 2 of the Price Commission Report No. 22, "Funeral Charges", published in 1977.

§ Mr. Ernie Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the present powers his Department has to give assistance with funeral expenses; how often in 1980 and 1981 these powers were exercised; what was the average payment to each applicant; and what was the total cost.

§ Mr. Rossi
The Department may assist with funeral expenses under two main powers. Under regulation 8 of the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payment) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981 No 1528), a single payment may be made to those entitled to supplementary benefit to help meet any essential expenses arising from the funeral or cremation of a close relative or a member of the same household for which a person takes responsibility.
Under special Treasury authority the Department can arrange the funeral of a war pensioner who dies as a result of his pensioned disablement. Where the funeral is arranged by family or friends, the Department can, if there is no—or reduced—entitlement to national insurance death grant, pay a special funeral grant to make good the difference.
As regards payments made under the first of these powers the most recent information available is derived from a sample of supplementary benefit recipients who, in a week in November 1979, were recorded as having received an exceptional needs payment in the preceding 12 months. During that period it is estimated that between 4,000 and 7,000 payments were made to help with funeral expenses and that the average ENP was between £75 and £105. The sample data account only for about two thirds of the total ENPs made during a year, and there is no information available on what proportion of the ENPs not recorded in the sample were for help with funeral expenses.
As regards payments made under the second power, in 1980, 50 funerals were arranged—approximate average cost £250—and 12 funeral grants paid—average £15—at a total expenditure of £13,000. In 1981, 70 funerals were arranged—approximate average cost £300and 12 funeral grants paid—average £15—at a total expenditure of £21,000.
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