HC Deb 17 January 1924 vol 169 cc294-5W
Sir C. CAYZER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken similar to those on the Western Front to collect and inter under proper conditions the remains of the British soldiers who fell at Sanna-i-Yat and elsewhere in Mesopotamia; whether the Imperial Graves Commission takes this work under its care; and what sum of money has been expended on post-War reinternment in this area?

Mr. GWYNNE

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Imperial War Graves Commission sent out a representative in November, who is arranging for the construction of the permanent cemeteries. With regard to the last part of the question, I understand that the preliminary expenditure incurred to date by the Imperial War Graves Commission in connection with the permanent cemeteries amounts to £16,000, but this is exclusive of previous expenditure incurred by the military authorities. I regret I am not in a position to give figures for this latter expenditure.