HC Deb 19 July 2001 vol 372 c413W
Ms Bridget Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if entitlement to bereavement payment in relation to persons abroad remains the same as that for widow's payment. [6037]

Malcolm Wicks

Yes. We shall shortly lay regulations (The Welfare Reform and Pensions (Persons Abroad: Benefits for Widows and Widowers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2001) amending the 1975 Persons Abroad regulations that restore the long established arrangements in the Widows Benefit scheme. These changes come into effect from 20 August 2001. Until then the few cases arising where the current Bereavement Benefit rules are not as we intended them to be from the outset in April this year will be dealt with in line with our original intention and the expenditure will be met by an extra-statutory arrangement.