§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the average cost of a funeral in each of the last five years and for the current year in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) the United Kingdom as a whole; and if he will make a statement; [34412]
(2) what figures his Department has on the average cost of a funeral in each of the last five years and for the current year in each region of England; and if he will make a statement. [34413]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe Department does not collect information on funeral costs. Where someone has good cause for taking responsibility for a funeral but they have insufficient funds, help is available from the social fund. The reasonable cost of a dignified funeral is allowed. This 413W includes up to £500 for a specified funeral director's charges, plus all the necessary disbursements for either a burial or cremation.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent investigations his Department has commissioned into the cost of simple funerals. [34405]
§ Mr. EvansSocial fund funeral payments cover the reasonable cost of a dignified funeral. This includes up to £500 for specified funeral directors' charges, plus all the necessary disbursements for either burial or cremation. In the case of burials, the cost to the taxpayer could well exceed £1,000. In deciding the reasonable costs, the adjudication officer takes into account the level of prices charged locally for each of the items allowable.