HC Deb 15 December 1947 vol 445 cc1432-3
8. Mr. Mack

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Mr. and Mrs. Harry Davies, 14, Albert Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, were refused permission to travel to Germany at their own expense to attend the funeral of their daughter Marjorie, a Control Commission clerk, who was found drowned in her bath at Dusseldorf; and why have the parents been refused the right to bring her body home to England, or failing that, to visit her grave in Germany next spring.

Mr. Mayhew

I am sorry to say that it is still not possible to provide travel and accommodation facilities for relatives to attend the funerals of members of the Control Commission who die in Germany. The existing arrangement for burials is that members of the Control Commission who die on service are buried in war cemeteries in Germany under the same arrangements as apply to members of the Armed Forces. So long as this practice continues the rules of the Imperial War Graves Commission, which do not allow repatriation of bodies, must be observed. This arrangement, however, is being reviewed. No application to visit Germany in the spring has been received from Mr. and Mrs. Davies.

Mr. Mack

In view of the distress which has been caused in the Newcastle-under-Lyme district, and, indeed, throughout the whole country, by this case, and the fact that this was an only child, whose parents were prepared to bear their own expenses, although they are by no means rich, will not my hon. Friend review the case, and see if anything can be done?

Mr. Mayhew

I am aware of the distress felt about this matter, and some inaccurate newspaper reports have not been helpful. The facts are as I have stated. While these arrangements are being made under the regulations of the Imperial War Graves Commission, I think it would be a very difficult precedent if I made an exception in this case.

Mr. Keeling

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the answer he gave about travel is not correct, and that it is possible to get a passage to Germany through an ordinary travel agent without any help from the Foreign Office provided the Foreign Office grant permission?

Mr. Mayhew

We are preparing a scheme for travel and accommodation facilities for relatives in these cases.

Mr. Keeling

That is no answer to my Question.

Mr. Mack

My hon. Friend said that no application has been received from the parents to visit the grave. That is not my information. But if an application of that kind is received by him, will he promise to give it favourable and sympathetic consideration?

Mr. Mayhew

I will certainly give it due consideration.

Mr. Lipson

The hon. Gentleman said that the whole position was being reviewed. In this review, will consideration be paid to natural human feelings, as such consideration does not seem to have played very much part in the matter so far?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, Sir. I have not perhaps made it clear that the existing arrangements put the officials of the Control Commission, at the moment, under the regulations of the Imperial War Graves Commission. Hon. Members will appreciate that these regulations also apply to a large number of relatives of Service men. There is this difficulty therefore: That while we apply these regulations, we must apply them to everybody concerned in the same way. Until a change has been made in the regulations I am not willing to make an exception.