§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the limit which currently applies to the funeral payment from the social fund towards funeral director's fees. [8584]
§ Mr. Roger EvansLike other social fund payments, funeral payments are not subject to the annual uprating of income-related benefits. However, we keep the level of
£ million Earmarking Pension-splitting 1997 2020 1997 2020 Costs to unfunded public service schemes 0 0 500 less than 50 Loss in tax revenue and increased tax relief 0 0 negligible 80 Income related benefits negligible -50 negligible -70 Legal Aid and court costs up to 130 n/a up to 120 n/a 1. Costs to unfunded public service schemes are rounded to the nearest £100 million in 1997.
2. All other costs are rounded to ther nearest £10 million.
3. A minus sign denotes a saving to the Exchequer.
4. Estimates are for full year costs. at constant prices.
416Wall social fund payments, including the ceiling placed on the amount allowable for funeral directors' fees, under review.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the average cost for the services of funeral directors when calculating the limit which applies to funeral payments from the social fund; [8588]
(2) what criteria underlay the calculation of the £500 limit on the funeral payment from the social fund payable towards funeral directors' fees. [8582]
§ Mr. EvansI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 January 1995,Official Report, columns 160–61.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to the limit on the amount payable from the social fund for funeral payments toward funeral directors' fees in the last 10 years. [8583]
§ Mr. EvansFrom 1980 to 1987, supplementary benefit single payments regulations provided for payment of an unlimited amount sufficient to meet the reasonable cost of any specified essential expenses for the funeral director's fees which fell to be met by the responsible person. This provision was carried forward to the social fund in 1987 and remained unchanged until 5 June 1995, when a ceiling of £500 on the amount allowable for specified funeral directors' fees for a dignified social fund funeral was introduced.