http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8389560.stm

The majority of people in government just have no clue about the real world and the people in the street do they?

While I have some sympathy with the father I do think it's a bit unfair to blame GB for this one. He can only write to someone when he knows about it.
He's hardly going to keep a complete mental list of everyone who's died in his brain is he. That's what he's got staff for and in this instance he was let down by them. And the most senior civil servant involved has apologised.

You have to wonder what would have been better. A late apology or no apology at all.

I have to agree with Ian Hislop (who was quoting John Major) when he said GB is basically now a figure of pity. He can't do anything right, no matter what he tries. And everything he touches turns to sh!t.

It's the fact the whole situation now seems even worse after the previous letter 'scandal' - I actually think no letter at all might have been better at this point

Given how many things are probably in Gordon Brown's in-tray at any one point is the odd oversight either a) unlikely or b) unforgivable?

The odd oversight is likely but totally unforgivable. If you make it your business to write (no matter how badly) to every widow/family that have lost a son/daughter then you have to write to every one. with no execeptions.
The Prime Minister has a very large staff to look after him and if you put in all those spin doctors and party hacks as well then simple things like ensuring highly embaressing cock up dont happen when they are so so easy to stop.
Brown has the anti midas touch.. all he touches turns to sh1t.

At least he writes. Blair never did.

Agreed. The comedic pathos of the man is such that if Ricky Gervais had written Yes, Minister, it would have come out just like this.

+1, and it turns out to be quite a few letters according to the press