§ Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the graves on Mount Scopus and in Gaza of citizens of the British Empire are being properly maintained; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GodberThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on Mount Scopus is in a part of Jordanian territory of which the Israeli Government are inde facto control. The staff of the Commission do not have regular access to the cemetery and have not been able to maintain the graves. Repeated attempts have been made since 1948 to find terms acceptable to all parties which would allow the Commission to rehabilitate and maintain the cemetery in a proper condition, and a renewed attempt to find such a solution with the co operation of all concerned will be made in the near future.
The Commission has made satisfactory arrangements for the maintenance of the cemetery at Gaza and when it was last inspected on 14th May, 1963, the graves were in good condition