§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the support given by the armed forces to remembrance and other events at Commonwealth War Graves Commission and similar sites in(a) France and (b) Belgium; and what such events have taken place in the last year. [178589]
§ Mr. CaplinThere were just over 1,900 UK Armed Forces personnel in Normandy for the commemorative events that took place between Saturday 5 and Monday 7 June.
Support for other events is routinely arranged by our Defence Attaches, including the Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and the 75th Anniversary of the dedication of the Menin Gate. Unit Commanders are also able to authorise attendance at various remembrance and other events at Commonwealth War Graves Commission and former battle sites in France and Belgium throughout the year, consistent with their regimental histories.
Attendance reports for these events are not held centrally and it is not possible to provide a report covering every event that has taken place in the last year.