§ 16. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what level the death grant needs to be increased for the current value to equal in real terms its value at the time of the last increase in October 1967.
§ Dr. BoysonThe death grant would need to be increased to £165 to restore it to its 1967 value.
§ 45. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why certain very elderly people are excluded from the provisions governing the award of the death grant; and if he will make a statement on the number involved.
§ Dr. BoysonNo death grant is payable in respect of men born before 5 July 1883 or women born before 5 July 1888 because they were over pension age when the national insurance scheme was introduced in 1948. As they were not able to pay any contributions towards the grant, they were not included in the provisions. It is estimated that about 25,000 people remain ineligible for death grant on grounds of age.