§ Mr. Freudasked the Prime Minister how many war widows are in receipt of pensions as a result of the deaths of their husbands (a) in the 1914–18 war, (b) the 1939–45 war and (c) the Korean war; if she will estimate in each case the number of widows whose husbands are buried abroad; and if she will ensure that funds are made available, to those widows who wish to do so, to visit their husbands' graves.
§ The Prime MinisterAbout 11,000 war widows pensions are being paid to the widows of service men as a result of deaths during the first world war, and about 54,000 as a result of deaths during the second world war and subsequent years. It is not possible to identify separately the numbers attributable to the second world war or Korean war, nor is information readily available on how many of the men concerned are buried overseas.
Since 1967 the next of kin of a service man buried overseas has been permitted either a visit to attend the 9W funeral, or if this is not possible a subsequent visit within the next two years to see the grave, at public expense, together with a companion. The Government decided at the time that this concession could not be granted retrospectively, and this remains the case. We would like to be able to offer a visit to all the next of kin of service men who are buried overseas and have not previously been able to visit the grave, but the numbers would be very large and it would be far too difficult and expensive to organise.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Prime Minister what was the total cost of sending widows of men killed in the Falklands to visit the islands.
§ The Prime MinisterThe visit to the Falkland Islands was arranged for the next of kin—not just the widows—of those men who died in the conflict and who were lost or buried at sea, or buried in the Islands. Contractual arrangements for the visit were made with Cunard Crusader World Travel Ltd. and the Cunard Company, but it is not our practice to disclose contract prices for reasons of commercial confidentiality.