§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he 265W will now review eligibility for the £30 funeral grant of people born before 1895;
(2) what would be the estimated cost of extending the full burial grant of £30 to those born before 1895.
§ Mr. OrmeEligibility for death grant is linked to the individual's age in 1948, when the national insurance scheme began. People then already over pension age—that is, men born before 5th July 1883 and women born before 5th July 1888—could not have contributed for the grant and, therefore, do not qualify for it. People then within 10 years of pension age—that is, men born before 5th July 1893 and women born before 5th July 1898—will have paid only a limited amount in contributions towards a grant and accordingly their entitlement is to a half-rate grant. In view of the contributory nature of the grant we have no plans to extend eligibility for a grant or for a full grant to these groups. To do so would mean incurring additional expenditure of £3.3 million in 1977–78.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people born before 1895 and so entitled to only half of the £30 burial grant.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the assistance which the Supplementary Benefits Commission can give towards funeral expenses of those aged over 60 years (women) and 65 years (men).
§ Mr. OrmeThe Supplementary Benefits Commission's policy on funeral expenses is set out in paragraphs 105–107 of the new edition of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook, a copy of which is in the Library. In deciding whether it can provide help the Commission is concerned with the resources of the person responsible for arranging the funeral rather than the age or financial state of the deceased.