§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes(a) have been made and (b) are planned in the amount paid in (i) the £75 limit on additional funeral expenses connected with a person's religion, (ii) the £2,500 exempt payments limit in the compensation recovery scheme and (iii) the £3,000 vaccine damage payment. [4125]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellNo changes have been made to the £75 limit on additional funeral expenses arising from a requirement of the religious faith of the deceased, and none are planned.
Since the introduction of the compensation recovery scheme in 1990, no changes have been made to the small payments limit of £2,500.
A consultation document was published in October to assess the implications of possible changes to the compensation recovery scheme as proposed by the Social Security Select Committee. One issue discussed in this 378W document is the future of the small payments limit. The Government are now considering the responses to the consultation exercise, and will announce their decision in due course.
The vaccine damage payments scheme began on 22 March 1979 when the payment was set at £10,000. The payment has subsequently been increased twice: to £20,000 on claims made on or after 16 August 1985 and to £30,000 on claims made on or after 15 April 1991. Whilst the value of the payment is reviewed periodically, there are no plans to change it at this time.