HC Deb 20 November 1951 vol 494 cc193-5
11. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for War why the parents of 223907095 Private J. A. C. Knight, Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in Malaya, have been asked to pay £320 for the cost of his burial in Australia.

Mr. Head

Normally those who are killed or die abroad are buried where they have died. At the present time, when the next of kin so wishes, the body of a soldier who has died abroad may be brought home if his relatives agree to pay the cost. If this course is decided on, my Department gives all possible help. In this case the parents were given an estimate of the cost of movement for their decision.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister satisfied that this charge for conveying a body by sea from Malaya to Australia and the alternative cost of £175 for cremation and sending the ashes by post to Australia are, in all the circumstances, fairly reasonable, especially in view of the fact that the War Graves Division will save money by having one grave less to maintain in Malaya itself?

Mr. Head

I am not in a position at the moment to comment on the actual cost, although I will inquire into it. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman wishes me to do so, I will write to him regarding the estimate of the cost.

Mr. F. J. Bellenger

Is not this a departure from the principle which has been long established, that soldiers who die abroad shall not be brought home for burial. Has there been any recent departure, which seems to be implied in the Minister's answer?

Mr. Head

No, Sir. I hope I did not mislead the right hon. Member in any way. There has been no departure from custom, but if relatives wish the body of a soldier to be brought home, then the estimate of the cost is given and that cost is borne by the parents who wish the body to be brought home.

Mr. G. Thomas

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to look at this question again, in view of the fact that it is very distressing for the family to think that if they had had the money they could have had the body brought home? Does he not agree it would be much better if all bodies had to be buried locally? As it is, the position is most disquieting.

Mr. Head

I appreciate the hon. Member's point. In time of war all men who have died or have been killed are buried locally—there is no question of having the bodies brought home. In time of peace the alternative up to now has been open to parents but, in view of the hon. Member's remarks, I am quite prepared to consider whether in some respects it might not be satisfactory to do the same as in wartime.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Bearing in mind that the War Department has imposed a time-limit within which this offer has to be accepted or rejected, would the Minister proceed as quickly as possible with this investigation to make quite sure that these charges are not being bolstered up by the authorities concerned so as to become penal deterrents?

Mr. Head

Yes, Sir.