The Scotsman comes around to the idea of a universal benefit

I made a case, last December, for the removal of fees for burials and cremations. The Scotsman has just offered an editorial accepting that argument in relation to children, at least.

The majority of Scotland’s councils have scrapped burial fees for children. … Unfortunately, nine of Scotland’s 32 local authorities continue to charge bereaved parents fees of up to £800 for burials. We are not always convinced by arguments for universality. … But surely there is no debate to be had about the abolition of burial fees for children?

It’s pleasing that they’ve gone that far. I do wonder, however, that we don’t extend the argument a little further. Funerals are almost always a difficult experience, the expense of a funeral is (after a house and car) one of the largest that most people will ever have to incur, the present system for helping people in difficulties is riddled with anomalies, and there is no risk or incentive arguments that would mean it was not appropriate to offer people some help with costs. “We Scots”, the Scotsman argues, “have a good conceit of ourselves as a compassionate, humane lot.” So why stop at children?

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