§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he estimates that net payments for funeral expenses out of the social fund would exceed present total expenditure out of the national insurance fund on death grant benefits and administration.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) on 18 June, at column104. Until the number of payments likely to be made for funeral expenses has been assessed, an estimate cannot be made of total expenditure on this element of our social fund proposals. Administrative costs, however, currently account for over 40 per cent. of the total cost of the death grant and such costs will be reduced under the proposed new system of help with funeral expenses.