§ Lord SWINFENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any truth in the Press reports that the War Widows' Association of Great Britain was refused permission to participate in the National Ceremony of Remembrance, and whether their wreath was removed from the Cenotaph.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the Association has made it clear to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that it has never asked to participate in the ceremony and did not at present wish to do so. All wreaths are removed from the Centograph before the ceremony, in which national homage is paid to the Commonwealth dead of both World Wars by the laying of wreaths by members of the Royal Family and of the Government, and by other national representatives on behalf of the peoples of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth countries. These wreaths are subsequently replaced if space permits, and the wreath of the War Widow's Association was so replaced.
§ Lord SWINFENMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer.