Written question asked by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 March 2001. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 29 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what changes he proposes to make to the rules regarding funeral payments.

Answer: Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he proposes to make to the rules regarding funeral payments. [156685] Angela Eagle: Social Fund funeral payments are intended to enable those on the lowest incomes to provide for a simple, respectful funeral where no other family member can meet the cost. We are acting to remove an anomaly in the regulations so that claimant's relatives in receipt of help under the National Asylum Support Service are treated in the same way as those receiving qualifying benefits. Amending regulations to achieve this will be laid before the House shortly.

Secondary information