HC Deb 22 November 1965 vol 721 c3W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what notice is taken, in assessing a widow's claim to a war widow's pension, of the cause or attributable causes of death as shown on her husband's death certificate.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, whether the findings of an autopsy override the cause or causes of death shown on a death certificate issued before the autopsy took place in determining whether the widow of a person previously in receipt of a war disability pension is entitled to a war widow's pension.

Miss Herbison

The whole of the relevant evidence is carefully considered, including the causes of death shown on the death certificate and any post-mortem findings. No one kind of evidence automatically overrides all the rest.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, on what grounds an autopsy is ordered by her Department once a death certificate has been issued on a person previously in receipt of a war disability pension.

Miss Herbison

I have no power to order a post-mortem examination.