§ 2. Mr. Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester)If he will make a statement on his discussions with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission concerning the graves of soldiers killed at the Somme. [24463]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie)Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence nor I have had any talks with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission concerning the graves of soldiers killed at the Somme. However, I am aware that the French Government have not released any approved plans for a new international airport which might affect historic battlefields to the north of Paris. Plans for a new airport in Picardy, 15 miles to the south of the Somme battlefields, were prematurely leaked to the media late last year. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is in discussion with the French authorities, who will provide details of any proposals that might adversely affect British war graves.
§ Mr. DhandaI thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. Is he aware that according to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire museum, more than 8,000 men from my constituency and the surrounding area gave their lives for this country in the first world war, and that under the rumoured plans for the airport in France, many of those graves would have ended up being exhumed, as well as 23,000 graves of German soldiers? Does my hon. Friend agree that if that happened, it would be a dishonour to the men who fought for our country and made the ultimate sacrifice for us all?
§ Dr. MoonieYes. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is in close contact with the French Government about the matter. The French Government have, in general, behaved with great sensitivity with regard to any war graves in the vicinity of the Flanders 7 battlefield. I can assure my hon. Friend that were plans to proceed and were I to have any doubts at all about what was happening, I would make strong representations on the subject.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)I thank the Minister for the assurance that he has just given. Such matters must be handled with the utmost sensitivity by Governments. In that connection, can he tell us how far plans have advanced for a national memorial for service men and women who have died on active service since 1945? Not a lot seems to have been said since the Government announced that last year.
§ Dr. MoonieI can say that plans are progressing. Of course, it is not the Government who are doing that planning, but ex-service organisations and others with a great interest in the matter. The plans are proceeding satisfactorily, although I accept that the process may appear slow to the hon. Gentleman. However, progress is being made and I suspect that an announcement will be made in the not-too-distant future.