§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Minister of Health how many applications for widows' pensions under the new Act he 2564W has received from women who presume, or wish to presume, the deaths of their husbands on acount of their not having seen them for seven years or more, or who find themselves in a difficult position through not being able to give any information; and what is the policy of the Department in respect of these cases?
§ Mr. GREENWOODNo information is available as to the number of applications for widows' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, received from women who cannot furnish evidence of the deaths of their husbands. With regard to the policy followed in dealing with these cases, I would remind the hon. Member that the fact that death may be presumed in a particular case is not in itself sufficient to establish the widow's title to a pension. Unless the circumstances are such as will support the presumption that death took place within three years of the last known employment or insurance, the claim cannot succeed.