HC Deb 02 November 2000 vol 355 cc542-3W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the non-war graves where maintenance to an appropriate standard is impossible for(a) climatic and (b) political reasons. [134307]

Dr. Moonie

The standard of maintenance of those service graves designated non-world war graves varies according to the prevailing weather and local climatic conditions in the countries in which the graves are located. I am able to confirm however, that in general there are no non-world war graves that are impossible to maintain to the appropriate standard for climatic reasons, though they may not appear the same as those located in a typical war grave cemetery in, for example, north-west Europe. Local conditions are taken into account when selecting the material used for headstones or markers and the design of the cemetery.

The changing worldwide political situation does mean that at times cemeteries containing war graves and non-world war graves are difficult or impossible to maintain. Currently, activity is restricted or impossible in Algeria, Ambon (Indonesia), Iraq and Mogadishu (Somalia). It can be difficult to maintain cemeteries in Northern Cyprus, parts of the Middle East, particularly Libya and China, and even Northern Ireland for political and security reasons. Restoration work on non-world war graves maintained on our behalf by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) is resuming.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the responsibilities of the Army Casualty Cell. [134305]

Dr. Moonie

The Army Casualty Cell is responsible for the following:

  1. (a) monitoring and recording all Listed Army casualties in Peace and War and ensuring next of kin are notified in each case.
  2. (b) repatriating the remains of those soldiers who die overseas and remaining long term point of contact for next of kin.
  3. (c) providing an Army casualty helpline in the event of a major casualty incident occurring in either peace or war.
  4. (d) advising on arrangements for public expense funerals of those soldiers who die in service, when requested by next of kin.
  5. (e) erecting standard military pattern headstones on the graves of deceased soldiers, when requested by next of kin.
  6. (f) focal point for policy issues relating to post 1947 Army non war graves in the UK.
  7. (g) overseeing the maintenance of post 1947 tri-service non war graves overseas where not already managed by another agency.
  8. (h) facilitating the flow of information from concerned relatives to service personnel and their dependants serving overseas.
  9. (i) authorising compassionate leave and travel back to the UK in cases of the death or imminent death of close relatives.
  10. (j) authorising the travel of close relatives to visit service personnel who are very seriously ill overseas.
  11. (k) identification of the remains of recently discovered soldiers killed in either of the World Wars, tracing and notifying the remaining family and organising the funeral.
    12. 543W
  12. (l) answering inquiries from members of the public and Members of Parliament in respect of subjects relating to the Army Casualty Cell's activities.
  13. (m) monitoring Boards of Inquiry into cases of deceased soldiers and arranging for release of the Board of Inquiry report to the next of kin.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from 1 October what will be the annual budget of the Army Casualty Cell at Upavon in respect of non-war graves in(a) the UK and (b) overseas. [134304]

Dr. Moonie

The Army Casualty Cell assumed responsibility for overseas non-war graves from 1 October 2000, but will not take over the financial responsibility until April 2001. £180,000 has been allocated for this task. The maintenance of non-war graves in the UK is the responsibility of Land Command and is funded as part of their overall budget for property management. It follows that the Army Casualty Cell has no annual budget for this purpose.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current annual budgets for(a) the Royal Navy and (b) the Royal Air Force in respect of their non-war graves in the UK. [134306]

Dr. Moonie

Both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force meet the costs of funerals, burial plots, headstones, marker stones and related costs for personnel who die while in service. In financial year 2000–01 the Royal Air Force allocation is £70,000. The Royal Navy allocation is not separately identified. The costs of subsequently maintaining non-war graves are met from local works service budgets and are not separately identified by either service.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in each of the past five years what has been the annual contribution from British Government sources to the South African Heritage Committee in respect of Boer War graves. [134297]

Dr. Moonie

Ordinarily, the British Government make an annual donation of £10,000 to the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) towards the maintenance of Boer War graves. In 1999, however, it was decided that an additional donation of £5,000 should be paid for three years, ending in 2001. This temporary increase in the contribution was established in order to support the SAHRA's initiative to employ a single contractor to maintain all British graves throughout South Africa.

£
1996 align="right">10,000
1997 align="right">10,000
1998 align="right">10,000
1999 15,000
2000 align="right">15,000

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