§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report the expenditure and number of claimants for each of the years 1978 to 1987 for (i) widow's allowance, (ii) widowed mother's allowance, (iii) death grant and (iv) maternity grant.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 1 December 1988]: The information requested is as follows:
anticipated numbers of claimants and levels of expenditure for 1988–89 for (i) widow's payment, (ii) widowed mother's allowance, (iii) death grant and (iv) maternity grant.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 1 December]: The information is as follows:
183W
Most recent figures available,1987–88 Anticipated end of year 1988–89 Figures Number of awards Levels of expenditure (£ million) Number of awards Levels of expenditure (£ million) Widow's payment 1n/a 1n/a 55,000 55 Widowed mothers allowance 82,000 210 2(including £15 million AP) 78,000 210 2(including £20 million AP) Death grant (information is given by calendar year) 3n/a 33 4Nil 4Nil Maternity grant 4Nil 4Nil 4Nil 4Nil 1 Widow's payment was introduced in April 1988. 2 Records of expenditure on widowed mother's allowance include amounts of additional pension payable. 3 The expenditure on death grant in 1987–88 represents awards for people who died before then but that were paid in the 1987–88 financial year. 4 Both maternity grant and death grant were abolished from April 1987.