§ Mr. E. Granvilleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether the personal effects of Cadet Dennis Cox, who was killed in action in August, 1943, which were lost somewhere between the Mercantile Marine Office, Glasgow and Halesworth, Suffolk, while in the hands of a cartage contractor, were consigned by passenger or goods train; and what steps are taken by his Ministry to see that the personal effects of those killed in action safely reach the next-of-kin in this country and are not pilfered or damaged in ordinary transit.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt has been the general practice in the past to send the effects of deceased seamen to their next-of-kin by goods train. I am glad to say that hitherto such losses have been very rare; but I recognise that when they do occur they cause great distress to the seamen's relatives. I have, therefore, decided that in future, the effects will be sent by passenger train. My hon. Friend will remember, however, that in the case of Cadet Dennis Cox, the effects were lost before they reached the station.