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Mr. Moynihan : City grant applications are not accepted for appraisal unless planning permission for the project has already been granted, or is due to be considered shortly by the local planning authority. As a decision on city grant is not made until there is a final determination of planning permission, the local authority, in considering planning applications is not in a position to accept them on the basis that grant will be given.
On average, approximately £1 of city grant levies is £4 of private sector investment.
Bradford IDO
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a full application has yet been received from Bradford for the rebuilding and diversion of Bradford beck under the Bradford integrated development operation ; whether the application has been considered by the IDO co-ordinating committee ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : A full application incorporating elements from the Yorkshire water authority has been received from Bradford metropolitan borough council for the rebuilding and diversion of Bradford beck under the Bradford integrated development operation. This application requires to be supported by a cost benefit analysis, which is awaited. When this is received and properly evaluated, the application will be submitted to the IDO co-ordinating committee.
Genetically Altered Organisms
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if it is his intention to allow public consultation under rules to specify legal procedures for the release outdoors of genetically altered organisms ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what representations he has had concerning the establishment of a safety directorate to oversee the application of safety rules to all research and production involving the use of genetically engineered organisms ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Trippier : Controls over the release of genetically engineered or manipulated organisms are administered principally by the Health and Safety Executive at present. Improvements in the existing controls to provide greater protection for the environment are being considered in the light of the 13th report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and of comments received in response to the consultation paper "Proposals for Additional Legislation on the Intentional Release of Genetically Manipulated Organisms" which was published jointly by my Department and the Scotttish and Welsh Offices. This consideration includes the possible structure of any revised system of controls and the extent to which there should be public consultation on proposed releases, but no decisions have yet been taken.
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Community Liaison Officers
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the urban development corporations who have appointed community liaison officers and the dates of any such appointments.
Mr. Moynihan : The following urban development corporations have an officer or officers carrying out community liaison work, with the date of the first such appointment in brackets :
Black Country Development Corporation (October 1987) ; Central Manchester Development Corporation(1 December 1988) ; London Docklands Development Corporation(10 January 1983) ; Sheffield Development Corporation (12 December 1988) ;
Trafford Park Development Corporation (27 February 1989) ; Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (20 October 1988 as a consultant).
The Teesside development corporation has an officer whose duties include community liaison work.
Teesdale
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State of the Environment what is the total amount of money spent so far by the Teesside urban development corporation on the purchase and reclamation of the Teesdale site in Stockton-on-Tees ; how much is budgeted for future expenditure on this site ; how much has been spent by other public agencies ; what resources are being provided for creating an access to the site ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : The Teesside development corporation has, to date, spent £5.7 million on the purchase and reclamation of the Teesdale site. I am not aware of any significant expenditure on this site by other public agencies.
The total cost for the acquisition, site preparation and infrastructure works for the Teesdale site is estimated at £57 million. This figure includes the cost of providing access to the site and the construction of the new bridges and barrage across the River Tees which are the subject of a private Bill promoted by the development corporation which is currently before Parliament.
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been put forward from the private sector for the Teesdale site ; when any development is likely to take place ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : There is significant private sector interest in the development of the Teesdale site for commercial, industrial and housing uses. The Teesside development corporation must, however, await the progress of the River Tees Barrage and Bridges Private Bill before detailed proposals for the comprehensive development of the site can be finalised.
Social Housing (Docklands)
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are to be made by the Government to the London Docklands development corporation for the social housing programme for the years 1990 -91 to 1992-93 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Moynihan : This will be decided in the light of the Department's expenditure plans for 1990-91 to 1992-93 which will be announced by the Secretary of State at the time of the autumn statement.
Rural Development Commission
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the Rural Development Commission, in particular regarding its programme of assisting balanced and viable local communities in the more remote regions of England.
Mr. Trippier : The annual report of the Rural Development Commission for 1988-89 has recently been published and copies have been placed in the Library. The Rural Development Commission is the principal agency in England charged with carrying forward the Government's policy of diversifying the rural economy. Its programmes for that purpose make a major contribution to maintaining balanced and viable communities in rural areas, and it also assists that objective by measures to increase the supply of affordable housing in rural areas and by helping community groups and community development projects. The bulk of the Commission's expenditure is targeted towards its priority areas, the rural development areas, which are mostly in the more remote regions of England.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any plans to increase the measures available to the Rural Development Commission for promoting community development.
Mr. Trippier : The Rural Development Commission has already increased the proportion of its funds devoted to community development and self-help. It is now planning to launch a new fund targeted on the problems of disadvantaged groups in rural areas.
Sewerage Works
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to determine the applications for time-limited consents in respect of certain sewage treatment works submitted to him in response to his announcement on 7 December 1988 of an accelerated investment programme designed to improve effluent quality.
Mr. Howard : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today issued the first directions to the National Rivers Authority to grant time- limited consents in respect of a number of applications for sewage treatment works. Further directions, including where relevant refusals of applications, will be issued as the individual applications are considered. All those who submitted representations on individual applications will be notified of my right hon. Friend's decision together with the reasons for it in due course. It will be for the National Rivers Authority to place these consents on the public register in the usual way.
Ocean Circulation Experiment
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will make a statement on the plan for and purpose of the world ocean circulation experiment based at the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences at Deacon laboratory in Wormley, Surrey.
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Mr. Jackson : I have been asked to reply.
The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) is an international experiment which will study the role of ocean circulation in determing climate change. The United Kingdom has played a major role in the planning of WOCE and will contribute both to the data collection and the development of models of ocean circulation. WOCE will take place mainly between 1990 and 1996 and in the United Kingdom will involve the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), higher education institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Meteorological Office.
Water Privatisation
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce the K factors to be given to the statutory water companies.
Mr. Chris Patten [holding answer 19 October 1989] : I plan to announce before the end of December the K values which I propose to determine in respect of statutory water companies.
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each water company region the number of members of the public who have registered an interest in purchasing shares in the water industry.
Mr. Chris Patten [holding answer 19 October 1989] : No. The prospectus will contain all information on registration that is material to investors' decisions.
Algae
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on algae blooms both in Britain's reservoirs and lakes and in estuaries and around the coastline.
Mr. Chris Patten [holding answer 19 October 1989] : Algal blooms are normal in United Kingdom surface waters. In the particular cases of toxic blue-green algae in reservoirs this summer it has been prudent for owners to prohibit public access for recreational uses. The incidence of blue-green algae is now declining. The National Rivers Authority is monitoring the situation closely.
Committee Statistics
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the composition of each customer services committee, showing for each member their age, sex and background leading to their being appointed to the committee and which interests they represent.
Mr. Chris Patten [holding answer 19 October 1989] : Appointments to the customer service committees for the water industry are a matter for the Director General of Water Services. I understand that the Director General is currently considering nominations received from a large number of interest groups and that he hopes to announce the membership of the committees in the near future.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings and on what dates have been held between his departmental officials, representatives of 3Ds Ltd. and officials of Bradford local
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authority ; what advice was given to both bodies by his officials regarding any application for city grant for the West End development in Bradford ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Moynihan : Members of the Department's team of professional appraisers and other officials have had many discussions on the proposals for the West End development, with representatives of 3D Ltd., and officials from the local authority, at both the regional office and headquarters. Details of the precise dates are not readily available.
Advice given to the developers and local authorities regarding any application for city grant is the standard guidance contained in the city grant guidance notes. For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not our practice to comment on individual city grant proposals.
HEALTH
Rabies
Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from rabies in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years ; and what were the comparable figures in each of the other European Community countries.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested for the United Kingdom is show in the table ; data for other European Community countries are not available.
Number of deaths with underlying cause of death of
rabies<1>,
United Kingdom, 1984-88
|Number of deaths
---------------------------------------------------
1984 |-
1985 |-
1986 |1
1987 |1
1988 |1
<1> International Classification of Diseases (9th
revision) code 071.
Disease Control
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendation of the chief medical officer's report "Public Health in England" that the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 should be reviewed.
Mr. Freeman : As a first step in the review process a consultation document inviting comments on an extensive range of options and proposals to amend the law on infectious disease control is today being issued to a wide variety of health and local authority bodies. Copies have been placed in the Library. The closing date for replies will be 31 January 1990.
This is the first full review of infectious disease control since before the second world war. Many of the provisions in the current legislation date back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Our aim is to bring up to date the law relating to infectious diseases so that it reflects our current modern situation.
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Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health why new core grants awarded to voluntary organisations under the provisions of section 64 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 will be limited from the next financial year to a period which will not exceed five years.
Mr. Freeman : The primary objective of this change in relation to new grants is to ensure that the section 64 budget retains enough flexibility to encompass a range of new applications each year. The overall value of the section 64 budget has not been reduced, and we shall keep the outcome of this change under review.
Community Treatment Orders
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted in the United Kingdom on the justification for community treatment orders ; whether any such research is under consideration ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We have just received the preliminary results of research commissioned by the Department of Health from Dr. Tom Sensky of Riverside health authority, London which examined the need for a community treatment order. I am not aware of any further research under consideration at present.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish his proposals for the introduction of community treatment orders ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We understand that in due course, the Royal College of Psychiatrists will be giving us their views on the possible role of new legal powers to ensure compulsory treatment in the community. We will then explore this issue with all the interested parties involved. Without prejudicing the discussion, we would need to be very clear both of the benefits, and that they could not be achieved through voluntary means, before seriously considering asking Parliament to create provision for compulsory treatment in the community.
Operations
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the cost of the 10 most commonly performed operations in the National Health Service in the 10 highest cost and 10 lowest cost districts for the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Freeman : I regret that this information is not collected centrally and to do so would be at disproportionate cost.
Health Service Statistics
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the following information for the latest year for which statistics are available together with figures for 1979 and the period 1974 to 1979 : (a) the number of general practitioners, (b) general practitioners' list sizes, (c) the number of nurses, (d) the number of in- patients treated, (e) the number of out-patients treated, (f ) the number of junior hospital doctors, (g) the number of consultants and (h) the total spending on the National Health Service.
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Mr. Freeman : The information for England is as follows :
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|1974 |1975 |1976 |1977 |1978 |1979 |1988
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Number of General
Practitioners |20,219 |20,377 |20,551 |20,796 |21,040 |21,357 |25,322
(b) General Practitioners'
average list size |2,384 |2,365 |2,351 |2,331 |2,312 |2,286 |1,999
(c) Number of nurses<1> |314,000 |332,200 |341,700 |343,200 |351,000 |358,400 |403,900
(d) In-patients treated |5,171,706 |4,975,750 |5,254,551 |5,344,967 |5,370,319 |5,400,120 |<2>6,619,354
(e) Out-patients treated |7,824,826 |6,925,922 |7,498,484 |7,612,057 |7,711,912 |7,713,465 |<2>8,529,759
(f) Number of junior
hospital doctors |15,274 |16,304 |16,799 |17,402 |18,091 |18,902 |21,493
(g) Number of
consultants |9,373 |9,625 |9,992 |10,124 |10,382 |10,632 |13,177
|Financial year|£ millions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(h) Gross NHS expenditure |1974-75 |3,426
|1975-76 |4,511
|1976-77 |3,149
|1977-78 |5,689
|1978-79 |6,525
|1979-80 |7,755
|<3>1988-89 |19,639
<1> Excluding nurses employed by general medical practitioners.
<2> Figures are for the 1987-88 financial year.
<3> Estimate.
Babies (Special Care)
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each regional health authority (a) in 1983 and (b) the latest figures available (i) the number of live births, (ii) the number of births of babies less than 1,000 grams, (iii) the number of special care baby cots and (iv) the number of babies under 1,000 grams per special care baby cot.
Mr. Freeman : The figures are shown in the tables.
(i) Total live births: area of usual residence Regional Health Authority |1983 |1988 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northern |39,117 |40,105 Yorkshire |46,507 |49,972 Trent |57,165 |61,618 East Anglia |23,075 |26,600 North West Thames |45,596 |50,639 North East Thames |49,894 |56,466 South East Thames |44,007 |51,402 South West Thames |34,688 |39,258 Wessex |33,044 |37,942 Oxford |30,948 |35,698 South Western |35,523 |40,981 West Midlands |68,224 |72,809 Mersey |31,850 |33,515 North Western |53,617 |57,358
(ii) Livebirths less than 1,000 grams RHA |1983|1988 --------------------------------- Northern |145 |102 Yorkshire |186 |172 Trent |243 |167 East Anglia |70 |58 North West Thames |165 |165 North East Thames |199 |199 South East Thames |164 |195 South West Thames |124 |121 Wessex |98 |84 Oxford |134 |105 South Western |124 |134 West Midlands |297 |287 Mersey |123 |106 North Western |226 |190
(iii) Number of special and neonatal intensive care cots
RHA |1983 |1987-88
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |307 |258
Yorkshire |333 |324
Trent |348 |321
East Anglia |139 |134
North West Thames |299 |280
North East Thames |333 |295
South East Thames |292 |266
South West Thames |205 |185
Wessex |195 |178
Oxford |190 |193
South Western |201 |198
West Midlands |449 |395
Mersey |190 |166
North Western |377 |333
Special Health Authorities |40 |47
(iv) Number of live births under 1,000 grams divided by the number of special and neonatal intensive care cots Regional Health Authority |1983 |1988 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northern |0.5 |0.4 Yorkshire |0.6 |0.5 Trent |0.7 |0.5 East Anglia |0.5 |0.4 North West Thames |0.6 |0.6 North East Thames |0.6 |0.7 South East Thames |0.6 |0.7 South West Thames |0.6 |0.7 Wessex |0.5 |0.5 Oxford |0.7 |0.5 South Western |0.6 |0.7 West Midlands |0.7 |0.7 Mersey |0.6 |0.6 North Western |0.6 |0.6 Note: Although the information is provided as requested, it is not a reliable measure of the use made of special and neonatal intensive care provision. For example, it does not take into account the facilities provided by the Special Health Authorities nor that special and neonatal intensive care facilities are provided to some babies born weighing over 1,000 grams.
TRANSPORT
Central London Rail Study
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the central London rail study.
Mr. Portillo : We are currently considering the proposals put forward in the central London rail study. Decisions will be announced shortly.
A46
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to uprate to motorway standard the A46 where it bypasses Kenilworth in Warwickshire.
Transport Act 1985 (Review)
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will order a review of the working of the Transport Act 1985 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : I have no plans to review the working of the Transport Act 1985. Bus deregulation has encouraged a greater diversity of services, with more bus miles being provided by more operators at lower cost to local authorities.
Roads White Paper
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from bodies located in the north-west of England on his roads White Paper.
Mr. Atkins : A number of representations, both from individuals and bodies, on the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" published in May have been received from the north-west of England. Many of these have been concerned with particular schemes added to the national road programme by the White Paper and with the letting of design commissions.
Motorways
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on traffic volumes on the A419/A417 link between the M4 and the M5 in the last five years.
Mr. Atkins : Traffic flows on the A417/A419 route have been recorded as follows :
Stratton St. Margaret-north of Swindon
|Vehicles per day
---------------------------------------------------
1984 |17,234
1985 |18,845
1986 |19,671
1987 |22,156
1988 |25,312
1989 |27,009
North of Cirencester
1984 |9,813
1985 |10,813
1986 |10,698
1987 |10,956
1988 |12,261
1989 |12,558
Aircraft (Aborted Take-offs)
Mr. Lambie : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aborted take-offs of twin-engine aircraft have taken place in 1988 and 1989 at (a) United Kingdom and (b) Scottish airports.
Mr. McLoughlin : The overwhelming majority of aborted take-offs occur soon after the engines should reach full thrust ; the aircraft's speed is less than 50 mph and there is more than a mile of runway remaining in which the aircraft can be safely stopped. Aborted take-offs are required to be reported only if they occur near the speed where the pilot has to decide quickly whether to stop or continue the take-off. The numbers of such aborts by twin-engine aircraft were 24 in 1988, of which eight were in Scotland, and 19 so far in 1989, of which six were in Scotland.
Airports (Costs)
Mr. Lambie : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out all expenditures deriving from governmental and public sector sources at the following airports from the creation of the BAA in 1966 to its privatisation : (a) Gatwick, (b) Heathrow, (c) Stansted, (d) Edinburgh, (e) Glasgow, (f) Aberdeen and (g) Prestwick ;
(2) if he will set out all expenditures deriving from governmental and public sector sources in the road and rail infrastructure serving the following airports from the creation of the BAA in 1966 until its privatisation : (a) Gatwick, (b) Heathrow, (c) Stansted, (d) Edinburgh, (e) Glasgow, (f) Aberdeen and (g) Prestwick.
Mr. McLoughlin : This information is not held centrally.
Trunk Roads
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider the decision not to accept the need for a link road from Elkesley village to the B6387 in Nottinghamshire in the light of the increasingly motorway character of the A1 trunk road and the recent announcements of major sums available for improvements in trunk road/motorway provision ; whether he has made any estimate of the cost of building this road ; and what representations he has received on the issue.
Mr. Atkins : The provision of a link road is a matter for Nottinghamshire county council, as highway authority for the B6387. The Department's White Paper "Roads for Prosperity", published in May, announced a study of the strategic needs of the A1 corridor from Stamford to south
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of Doncaster including possible motorway status. Junctions and accesses, including those at Elkesley, will be considered. It is hoped to appoint consultants soon.Representations have been received from my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander), Bassetlaw district council and the Elkesley Bridge action group.
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position regarding the proposed A38 trunk road improvements between Saltash and Trerulefoot and Liskeard-Bodmin ; when he hopes to announce the preferred lines of route ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Consultants were appointed in October 1987 to investigate options for the proposed improvement of the A38 from Liskeard to Bodmin. We plan to carry out public consultation on alternative routes next year and to announce a preferred route early in 1991.
We expect to appoint consultants for the scheme from Saltash to Trerulefoot very shortly. One of their first tasks will be to review the earlier work done for this scheme ; subject to the outcome of this we hope to carry out public consultation and announce a preferred route during 1992.
Manchester Metrolink
Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decision on funding for the Manchester Metrolink project.
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Mr. McLoughlin : I am today writing to Councillor Harkin, chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority, to say that I am approving phase I of the Manchester Metrolink project for grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968. Grant will be paid at 50 per cent. of eligible costs within a cash ceiling ; borrowing approval will be available for other eligible costs.
I welcome this important and innovatory scheme, which is the first new street-running light railway in this country to be approved for many years. It will link Manchester's main railway termini, and will provide much- improved services to Bury and Altrincham. The scheme will also bring a new form of private sector involvement : it is to be designed, built, operated and maintained by a single consortium, the GMA Group. The net capital cost is expected to be about £110 million.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Fund
Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistical information he has as to the reasons given to applicants by social fund officers at the local offices in Leicester for the nil awards in respect of an application for community care grant.
Mr. Scott : Information on the number of times each reason for decision has been used in refusing an application for a community care grant is given in the table.
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Table: Numbers of each reason given for refusing a community care grant-period 4 April to 30 September 1989
Local Office Reason for Decision
|(1) |(2) |(3) |(4) |(5) |(6) |(7) |(8) |(9) |(10) |(11)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leicester (Burleys Way) |2 |18 |5 |1 |2 |1 |8 |2 |15 |3 |125
Leicester (Lower Hill Street) |4 |26 |16 |<1>112|5 |0 |17 |2 |104 |1 |110
Leicester (Norton Street) |6 |52 |24 |3 |7 |2 |31 |15 |0 |2 |231
Leicester (Yeoman Street) |4 |63 |25 |2 |10 |2 |21 |3 |90 |1 |315
<1> Figure inflated by error in interpreting computer input code
Key
(1) Applicant has savings over £500 which meet the full cost.
(2) Applicant is not in receipt of IS.
(3) Item(s) excluded by Secretary of State Direction.
(4) Applicant excluded by Secretary of State Direction.
(5) Applied for less than the minimum award of £30.
(6) Adjusted amount less than the minimum award of £30.
(7) Decision given on application for same item in same circumstances in the previous 26 weeks.
(8) Help available from another source.
(9) Priority too low to meet from the budget.
(10) Alternative available to the whole application.
(11) Others not covered above-includes refusals where general criteria for CCG are not satisfied.
Nursing Home Fees
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to review the maximum levels of private nursing home fees funded by his Department ; and if he has assessed whether existing levels are still relevant in the Bristol area.
Mrs. Gillian Shepard : The Government are currently reviewing all the limits and a general uprating statement will be made shortly in the usual way.
Overpayments
Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide the most recent figures broken down by (a) year and (b) section on (i) the number of
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overpayments recovered under section 53 of the Social Security Act 1986, section 119 of the Social Security Act 1975 and section 20 of the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976, (ii) the number of standard letters sent indicating that recovery of overpayments through civil proceedings and (iii) the number of cases pursued under (ii) which are successful.Mrs. Gillian Shepard : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 10 May 1989 at column 447.
Funeral Grant
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide payment of funeral grant in cases where a person dies in the United Kingdom but the
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body is buried elsewhere to cover all the costs incurred in the United Kingdom with the exception of air transit costs provided that the applicant would qualify in all other respects ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Scott : No. The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 1987 stipulate that a social fund funeral payment can be made for funeral expenses only where the burial or cremation takes place in the United Kingdom.
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