The Department of Work and Pensions is responsible for the funeral payment.

Estimating the number of people who are eligible for the funeral payment is difficult because of the limited Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) data available and the unpredictable nature of life events.

Table 1 provides estimates of the number of possible Funeral Payment awards that would be made in 2016-17 to 2020-21.

Two sets of figures are provided. The first column estimates of the number of payments that would be made if current take-up levels were maintained.

The second column provides a very rough estimate of the number of payments that could be made if we managed to achieve maximum take up the funeral payment based on current eligibility criteria.

Table 1: Forecast number of funeral payment awards in Scotland, 2015-16 to 2020-21

Source: Scottish Government analysis based on Department for Work and Pensions figures

Table 2 shows the numbers of funeral payment applications and awards in Scotland in 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Source: UK Government parliamentary question 11102

Annual costs and the average award are available from DWP.

Note for table 2:

All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

The applications figures are based on applications received by DWP, not applications processed. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.

The award figures include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.

These figures do not include cases which have been processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund computer system.

The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 contains a regulation making power to enable Scottish Ministers to introduce a licensing scheme for funeral directors. The introduction of such a scheme will be considered once inspectors of the funeral industry have been appointed under the Act and they have reviewed how the industry operates and made recommendations to Scottish Ministers.

We have worked extensively with all those with an interest in the area of the costs of funerals and the adequacy of funeral payments. We commissioned a report on funeral poverty from John Birrell, Chair of the Scottish working Group on Funeral Poverty and Citizens Advice Scotland, and are taking forward the recommendations from that report. That report and the Scottish Governments response was published on 3 February 2016 and can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/fairerscotland/future-powers/Publications.

We have also gathered evidence from academic papers, annually published research on funeral costs, third sector reports and professionals who work with bereaved people. In future, various measures will be established to evaluate the impact of the funeral payment alongside other social security benefits once they are devolved.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00236 on 14 June 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government does not currently track funeral poverty however after recognising the issue of the costs of funerals commissioned a report into funeral poverty, as referred to in S5W-00238 on 14 June 2016 to examine this issue. Various measures will be established to evaluate the impact of the funeral payment and other social security benefits once they are devolved.

The Scottish Government is in the process of organising a national conference as part of the range of work currently being undertaken to address the issue of the costs of funerals including hosting round table discussions between Scottish Ministers and stakeholders and working with stakeholders to provide information to help people plan ahead for their own funeral.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00238 on 14 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

After recognising the issue of the costs of funerals the Scottish Government commissioned a report into funeral poverty, referred to in S5W-00238 on 14 June 2016 to examine this issue. We are concerned about the costs of funerals and have plans to take this forward with those in the industry. We will also seek to publish a funeral costs plan to tackle issues relating to the affordability of funerals.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00236 on 14 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.