§ The following Questions stood upon the Order Paper:
§ Q12. Sir RICHARD GLYNTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of the Commonwealth 1701 War Graves Commission which, on 21st May, will complete 50 years of service devoted to the commemoration of the dead of two world wars.
§ Q13. Mr. DAVID GRIFFITHSTO ask the Prime Minister what steps he proposes to take to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; and if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Gov-Government will continue to support this work.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)With permission, I will now answer Questions Nos. Q12 and Q13.
I am glad to have the opportunity of paying tribute to the Commission. It has in its charge, Sir, well over 1,100,000 individual graves and memorials for a further 770,000 war dead from two world wars in 150 countries and territories. Those who have had an opportunity of visiting any of the war cemeteries and memorials will appreciate the meticulous care which has gone into their creation and the devotion with which they have been looked after.
The United Kingdom Government supported the Commission's policies from its earliest days and as it completes its 50th year of service I think it right that our confidence and support should be reaffirmed. I am sending the following message of good will from Her Majesty's Government to the Commission:
On behalf of Her Majesty's Government and people in the United Kingdom and Colonial Territories, I express to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission our warmest congratulations on the attainment of its fiftieth anniversary. We reaffirm our confidence in the work of the Commission, which has brought comfort to so many bereaved families and has earned the admiration of countless visitors to the war cemeteries and memorials, and we pledge our support for the continuance of its work in the future.I am sure that the whole House would wish to be associated with this message.
§ Mr. HeathI behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends, I should like to associate the Opposition with the tribute paid to the Commission by the Prime Minister. During all the years I was a member of the Government, and all the visits that I paid to graves being cared for by the Commission, I never heard a word 1702 of criticism of any kind. That is a most remarkable tribute to a tremendous service.
§ Sir Richard GlynIs the Prime Minister aware that his statement and the Government's message will be a great encouragement to the Commission and its staff all over the world and will give consolation and satisfaction to bereaved families and former comrades of men and women who gave their lives for freedom in two world wars?
§ The Prime MinisterI thank the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition and the hon. Member for Dorset, North (Sir Richard Glyn). We all owe a great debt of gratitude, also, to those right hon. and hon. Members of the House, both present and past, who have been members of the Commission over this period.
§ Mr. David GriffithsIs my right hon. Friend aware that we appreciate very much what he has said? I am sure that, if it were possible at all for officials and workmen of the Commission, where-ever they are in the world, who are doing this magnificent work, to do any more than they are doing, this statement would encourage them and that they will be comforted by his words.
§ Mr. ThorpeMay I associate my right hon. and hon. Friends with everything which the Prime Minister has said in his expression of gratitude to the Commission and express, also, our great appreciation of all that has been done?