§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the categories of people who do not qualify for a death grant on their deaths; what estimate he has of the number of people involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonPeople who do not qualify for a death grant are: stillborn babies, those who were over pension age in 1948 (example, men born before 5 July 1883 and women born before 5 July 1888); and those who do not satisfy the contribution condition. The latter requires that the contributor—who is usually the deceased but may be the dead person's parent or spouse—must have paid at least 25 contributions between 1948 and 1975 or contributions of at least 25 times the lower earnings limit in any complete tax year since 1975. Of the 660,000 deaths each year 6 per cent. (40,000) do not attract death grant either because the contributor does not qualify or no claim is made. The future of the death grant will be considered in the light of the outcome of the reviews of social security which are currently in progress.