HC Deb 18 November 2003 vol 413 c766W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) other Departments have had with the Government of Belgium to (i) preserve First World War battlefields which lie on the route of the A11 motorway and (ii) secure the appropriate treatment of British Servicemen's remains. [139030]

Mr. Caplin

Neither the Ministry of Defence, nor the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has had any discussions on this subject with the Belgian Government. However, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission continues to monitor the effects of the A19 extension scheme. We fully expect the Belgian Government to adhere to existing procedures for dealing with the remains of British Servicemen discovered during the course of the extension of the A 19 motorway. This would entail the eventual interment of remains in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Belgium.

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