§ Mr. Goronwy Robertsasked the Secretary of State for War for how long at a time officers and other ranks, respectively, in Austria are employed in Graves Registration Units opening mass graves in connection with the investigation of war crimes; whether he is aware that many officers and men complain of the strain imposed on them by this work; and if any special measures to protect the mental and physical health of men engaged for long periods on this work are taken.
§ Mr. Lawson:I regret that I have no details as to the time which has been spent by officers and other ranks on opening graves in connection with the investigation of war crimes. Exhumations for identification, or for concentration of isolated graves into war cemeteries are part of the normal duties of members of the Graves Service, for which they are specially equipped and for which extra duty pay is issued in view of its trying character. At the request of the authorities concerned they have occasionally undertaken exhumations in connection with the investigation of war crimes, but no complaints about this particular kind of work have so far been received by the War Office.