HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 c333W
Mr. David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage increase would be necessary to restore the purchasing power of the death grant to the level at which the grant was introduced; and what would be the total cost of such an increase.

Mr. Rossi

Based on the movement of the general index of retail prices up to April 1981, the latest month for which a figure is available, the standard £30 death grant would need to be increased by about 500 per cent. to £180 to restore the value of death grant when introduced in July 1949. This would cost £85 million a year extra in grant, on existing conditions for payment; and a further £20 million to pay grant at this level for all deaths.