HC Deb 08 March 1946 vol 420 cc134-5W
Sir H. Morris-Jones

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the question of granting a small pension to the dependants of Servicemen and women who died from natural causes whilst on active service away from this country; what is the approximate number involved; and what would be the cost.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Where death is hastened by the effects of war service, pension is admissible as though death had occurred in action. I am, however, unable to recommend any departure from the long-established principle, recently affirmed by the Government, that for the award of pension in respect of death there must be a casual connection between death and war service. I regret that the records of my Department are not in such a form as to enable me to give the number of deaths from natural causes occurring on service overseas.