§ 47. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the small cost to public funds involved, he will reconsider his decision not to give free transport to widows and parents of members of the three Services killed or dying in Europe in time of peace in order to enable these relatives to attend the funeral.
§ Mr. ShinwellI sympathise with the hon. Member's purpose in putting this Question. The cost to public funds is, however, not the only, or even the primary, consideration in this matter. The real problem is the practical difficulty—or even impossibility—of making suitable arrangements for travel to the overseas station concerned at short notice. We have given further thought to the hon. Member's suggestion, but we have concluded with regret that it would not be practicable to operate the scheme outside the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn considering the matter, has the right hon. Gentleman given consideration to the possibility of using Air Transport Command, and is he also aware that the majority of His Majesty's Forces on the Continent of Europe are in accessible places to which it is perfectly possible to arrange air transport if people could afford it?
§ Mr. ShinwellAir Transport Command is not always available at such short notice.