§ Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Health whether he has any information relative to the burial of air-raid precautions workers at Poplar, who were killed in the execution of their duty; what arrangements were made for their relatives to attend; whether any representatives of local public bodies officially attended the ceremony; and who paid the funeral expenses?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI have made inquiries of the Poplar Borough Council, and I understand that the relatives of the deceased air-raid precaution workers were, in accordance with the usual practiceee, asked whether they wished themselves to arrange for burial. Where no such wish was expressed, the burial was undertaken by the borough council and the relatives were given due notice in writing by the council of the time and place of burial. I am informed that owing to the extreme strain imposed by recent happenings in the borough it has not been possible to arrange for the attendance in an official capacity, of representatives of the borough council but I am sure that it would be the wish of local authorities to make every effort to arrange where practicable for such representation as a mark of respect to those who have been killed. The funeral expenses incurred by the borough council will fall upon public funds.