asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mrs. Julia Willis Firminger known as Mrs. Julia Willis Walter whose husband, the late William Edward Redvers Firminger, died on 28th March 1962, his death certificate being in the possession of the Department of Health and Social Security, and who has not since remarried, is still not in receipt of a widow's pension.

I regret the delay which has occurred, but, as the hon. Gentleman is aware from his contacts with our local office, this is a complex case. I shall be writing to him to explain why our inquiries have been protracted.