§ 46. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has secured a modification of the two-year ban on the exhumation of bodies in Aden, in time for the remains of Guardsman Edge of Birmingham to be repatriated on the ship offering free transport and leaving Aden on 29th June.
§ Mr. GreenwoodNo.
The High Commissioner in Aden has reviewed, with the assistance of the medical authorities, the period which should elapse before a body can safely 246W be exhumed after burial for transhipment to another country, and I am afraid has concluded that this cannot be reduced to less than 20 months without risk to public health. Accordingly I very much regret that it will not be possible for the remains to be exhumed in time for them to be repatriated on the ship leaving Aden on 29th June.