§ 1. Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of claims for war widows' pensions are successful (a) on initial application and (b) on appeal.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mrs. Gillian Shephard)About 46 per cent. of claims for war widows pensions are successful on initial application. Some 19 per cent. of cases which go to appeal are successful.
§ Mr. PikeDoes the Minister recognise that incomplete records and the passage of time make it increasingly difficult to prove or disprove that war service has contributed to the death of a pensioner? Many widows as well as their husbands suffer for many years and find it extremely difficult. Is not it time that we took a more generous approach to widows whose husbands suffered as a result of giving service to the country during the war?
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI know that the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind and I have every sympathy with the lady—he will know that her case is to go to 2 appeal. He seems to be asking about automatic entitlement to a war widow's pension. The basic condition for the award of a war widow's pension must be that the husband's death was due to or substantially hastened by service in the armed forces. There must be that causal connection or the rates of the war widow's pension could not be justified.