HC Deb 04 July 1988 vol 136 c437W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instigate the automatic award of war widows' pensions to the widows of all men who are in receipt of a war disablement pension and who die aged 70 years or over leaving a widow aged 65 years or over.

Mr. Scott

War widows pensions are awarded where the husband's death was due to or substantially hastened by service in the armed forces. War widows are paid significantly higher rates of pension than other widows and also receive age allowances and other preferential treatment. This can only be justified where the cause of death is clearly related to service in the forces.