§ Sir George Youngasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what replies he has sent to the representations he has received in connection with the level of the death grant, as mentioned in his Written Answer of 25th May 1976 (Official Report, c. 101).
§ Mr. DeakinsAlthough replies naturally vary in detail according to the representation made, their general tenor is that any improvement in death grant has to be considered against other competing claims for additional social expenditure, and that priority in the allocation of scarce resources has to be given to maintaining the value of pensions and other regular weekly benefits and to the continuing development of provision for the disabled.