§ 4. Commander Keransasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why it is necessary for widows to apply for pensions, when the Admiralty is already in possession of all the facts on receipt of the death certificate; and what steps his Department will take to reduce delays.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingUnfortunately the Admiralty has to ask for other evidence, in addition to the death certificate, in order to establish the widow's eligibility for an award. There is sometimes delay in forwarding this evidence, 1332 which constitutes the application to the Admiralty for pension.
A further application for issue of pension has to be made to the Paymaster-General's office. I am consulting my right hon. Friend to see if there is any way in which that procedure can be simplified.