Written question asked by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 July 2004. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Thursday, 22 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of the Social Fund funeral expenses payment was in each of the last seven years.

Answer: Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of the Social Fund funeral expenses payment was in each of the last seven years. [185059] Mr. Pond: The funeral payment scheme provides people receiving qualifying benefits or tax credits with payments for simple, respectful funerals. Awards cover the reasonable cost of specified items, including necessary burial or cremation charges, plus up to £700 for other non-specified funeral expenses. This was increased from £600 in April 2003. The information is in the table. £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Average funeral payment 1997-98 796 1998-99 836 1999-2000 862 2000-01 885 2001-02 909 2002-03 929 2003-04 1,019 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 424 c454-5W;424 c455W; 185059
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Costs Funerals Payments Social security Social Fund Funeral payments
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk