HC Deb 05 May 1953 vol 515 c181
10. Mr. G. Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements exist with the Egyptian Government regarding the repatriation of the bodies of British soldiers who die in Egypt.

Mr. Head

Repatriation of the bodies of those who have died in Egypt since 1948 is allowed, but the Egyptian Health regulations do not permit movement to take place within 12 months of burial.

Mr. Jeger

Is there any reason why that should be so? One could quite understand that they should not allow dead bodies to be brought into the country in case they brought with them a contagious disease. Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that not to allow the bodies of our own men, caught in an ambush by Egyptians, to be repatriated to Britain is something about which we should protest and take real action? Is it at all possible to obtain permission either for the bodies to be returned to Britain or for the bodies to be cremated and the ashes returned to relatives here?

Mr. Head

This is a regulation that has been in being for some considerable time, and any bodies that have been repatriated previously have been repatriated within this regulation, that is after an interval of one year. I will certainly find out about the possibilities of cremation and will write to the hon. Member about it.