§ Mr. E. WOODasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that considerable anxiety exists in this country as to the permanent preservation of the remains of the Cloth Hall at Ypres as a memorial of the historic defence of the town during the late war by British and Imperial troops; and what steps, if any, have been taken by His Majesty's Government to approach the Belgian Government in order to secure this object?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Belgian Government have agreed temporarily to leave the Cloth Hall, the Cathedral, and the ramparts of Ypres in their existing state pending formulation of a scheme by the British Government for the erection at Ypres of a memorial to the troops that fought there. As announced by the Financial Secretary to the War Office on the 14lh June, in answer to the hon. Member for Kensington (South), the question of the erection of national memorials has been referred by the Cabinet to a Committee presided over by the Earl of Midleton. This Committee has made certain recommendations which include the rebuilding of the Menin Gate at Ypres, and I hope to be able to make a fuller announcement before long.