§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what factors he is taking into account in his current review of the death grant.
§ Mr. RossiThough no aspect of death grant has been left out of consideration, the major factors to which we have been giving attention in our review are the changes over time in the relationship of death grant to funeral costs; the availability of other resources to meet such costs; the circumstances in which the payment of funeral expenses can still give rise to considerable hardship in individual cases; the scope for concentrating the limited resources available more effectively on those who most need help at such times; and the basis of eligibility. These factors are being viewed in the context of overall priorities in the social security field and elsewhere, and the need to restrain public expenditure in present economic circumstances.