§ 12. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the administration of his local offices in assisting and explaining their entitlements coming under the jurisdiction of his Department to recently bereaved widows; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanClaims from widows are dealt with sympathetically and given priority in my Department's local offices. Information about the benefits to which a widow may be entitled is given by the Register when her late husband's death is recorded.
§ Mr. EadieIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I am satisfied with the expedition and fullness of the information which he gave me about a case that I put to him? Would he like to reaffirm to the House that where cases of administrative oversight are drawn to his attention his Department will act with similar expedition?
§ Mr. DeanI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he said, and I apologise for the error that was made. That was a complicated case concerning an injury which went back to well before the industrial injuries scheme. We consider these cases very sympathetically, and the Registrar helps, too. He makes available our leaflet which gives information about the death grant and also the widow's benefit. If widow's benefit may be payable the Registrar issues one free copy of the death certificate, and this incorporates a simple form on which the widow may indicate that she wishes to claim widow's benefit and/or death grant.