§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the combined cost of single payments, death grant and maternity grant in (a) 1985–86, (b) 1986–87 and (c) 1987–88, respectively.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1985]: Expenditure on death and maternity grants is estimated at £35 million in 1985–86 and £36 million in 1986–87. The White Paper, "Reform of Social Security", proposes that both grants will be replaced in April 1987. It is not possible to make comparably reliable projections of expenditure on single payments; expenditure in 1984–85 was £241 million.