§ 6. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will amend the regulations of the Industrial Injuries Act to permit death benefit to be paid to widows retrospectively to the date of their husbands' deaths.
Mr. VaneThree months retrospection is allowed in all cases but the independent adjudicating authorities have power to allow retrospective payment for industrial death benefit without limit of time if they are satisfied that there was "reasonable cause" for delay in claiming.
§ 7. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider the proposal that all coroners' verdicts of death due to, or following, industrial injury should be notified automatically to his Department, so that widows do not lose their benefits through failure to claim.
Mr. VaneMy right hon. Friend has, of course, no authority to issue instructions to coroners. But he is ready to2W discuss with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary whether any useful results could be obtained by following up the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.