§ Mr. WolfsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received from British veterans of El Alamein about a memorial service to mark the 50th anniversary of the victory; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make it his policy that the allied victory at El Alamein in 1942 should be commemorated by a memorial service in London to mark the 50th Anniversary in October.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Ministry of Defence has received a small number of representations from veterans of the battle and a number of questions have been asked in the House of Lords.
The 50th anniversary of the battle will be commemorated in Egypt at a Commonwealth ceremony and at an international ceremony held jointly with Germany and Italy. I understand that 400 to 500 veterans will be present, in parties arranged by the Royal British Legion and the Eighth Army Association.
The Government do not arrange memorial services in London to commemorate particular battles of this kind. However, the Royal British Legion's annual festival at the Royal Albert hall will this year mark the 50th anniversary of the battle and I understand the Eighth Army Association is expecting 2,000 of its 3,000 members to be at its annual reunion in Blackpool on 31 October. In addition I understand that the Royal British Legion will invite the Eighth Army Association to lead the Remembrance Day parade.