§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing the average housing additions paid with supplementary benefit in November 1982 for (a) single people, (b) 562W will reinvest his Department's local offices with the discretionary powers to assist those in need with the cost of burials.
§ Dr. BoysonThe increasing costs of funerals and the desirability of ensuring that help is provided to those in greatest need were amongst the matters which led to the issue of the consultative document in March 1982 on the future of the grant. We have no plans to re-introduce the discretionary powers referred to, although of course people on supplementary benefit can claim single payments for funeral expenses if they satisfy prescribed conditions.