§ 63. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures available for the number of people who have sought social security help to meet the cost of funerals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that information is not available on the number of requests made to the Supplementary Benefits Commission for help with funeral expenses; but table 7.4 of the Commission's annual report for 1976 (Cmnd. 477W 6910) gives the most recent figures available on the number of exceptional needs payments made for funeral expenses. For figures on the national insurance death grant, I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21st April 1978.—[Vol. 948, c. 399–400.]