§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated annual savings as a result of the changes made to death benefit payments.
§ Mr. ScottThe estimated cost in 1989–90 of continuing to pay death grant at £30 per person is £20 million. The cost in 1989–90 of funeral payments from the social fund is approximately £24 million. Due to insufficient information, it is not possible to estimate the likely cost in 1989–90 of funeral payments that would have been incurred under the previous supplementary benefit scheme.