103. Mr. J. P. L. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will hold an inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Sapper R. Jones Newton, of the Royal Engineers, on Goerlitzen Mountain, Austria, on 25th October, 1947; and whether he is prepared to withdraw certain phrases in the letter of his Parliamentary Private Secretary to the hon. Member for Hereford of 9th December, 1947, which have caused distress to the family of the deceased.
§ Mr. ShinwellAn inquiry into the circumstances of this soldier's death has been held, but the results have not yet been received from the military authorities in Austria. When I have received a report on the matter I will write to the hon. Member. In the meantime I should like to express my sympathy to Sapper Jones Newton's family and my regret for any distress unintentionally caused to them by any phrases in the letter referred to in the Question.