§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the feelings of grievance amongst bereaved families where no death grant is payable in respect of a man born before 5th July 1883 and a woman prior to 5th July 1888, he will make proposals for changing the present law on the subject.
§ Mr. DeanMy hon. Friend will be aware that death grant was an entirely new benefit under the national insurance scheme which was introduced on 5th July48W 1948. Those who were over pensionable age on that date had no expectation of such a benefit. They did not become insured under the new scheme and could not therefore be covered for death grant. This has been looked at on a number of occasions, and examined by the National Insurance Advisory Committee, and it has always been concluded that the present arrangements should stand.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of extending the equivalent of the present national insurance death grant in respect of deaths of men born before 5th July 1883 and women before 5th July 1888, and for increasing the maximum grant from one half to the full standard rate for those within 10 years of pension age when this benefit was introduced under the National Insurance Act 1946.
§ Mr. DeanIt is estimated that the additional cost of paying a death grant of £30 on the death of all men born before 5th July 1883 and women born before 5th July 1888 would be about £12 million spread over a number of years. To pay a full grant instead of half grant for those within 10 years of pensionable age in 1948 would cost about £28 million, again spread over a number of years.