Meg Hillier (Hackney South & Shoreditch, Labour)

What events are planned to mark the 60th anniversary of the second world war; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Airdrie & Shotts, Labour)

It is extremely important that all of us in this country recall the sacrifices of our past and pass on the culture of remembrance from generation to generation. That is why the Government are organising a series of events this week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war. They will be centred on national commemoration day, on 10 July. It will bring to an end the first ever veterans awareness week, which will concentrate this year on second world war veterans.

Meg Hillier (Hackney South & Shoreditch, Labour)

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is extremely important to recognise not only the veterans who are still alive but the memory of those who gave their lives in conflict for our future? Will he join me in applauding the work of the late Sir Donald Thompson, a former Member of this House, in establishing the War Memorials Trust, of which I am a trustee? Will my right hon. Friend also promise that he will work with colleagues at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that all war memorials—not just listed ones—are preserved, as the conflicts that we are discussing move from living memory to history?

John Reid (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Airdrie & Shotts, Labour)

I should like to associate myself with my hon. Friend's tribute to Sir Donald, a former Member of this House, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the War Memorials Trust—a charity dedicated to the conservation and preservation of 65,000 memorials throughout the country—has ensured that those who gave their lives for our freedom are not forgotten. In a real sense, this week's veterans awareness week is intended to be a living memorial not only to those who gave their lives, but to those—military and civilian—who suffered great hardship and made great sacrifices for this country. It is a fitting tribute to them.

Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham, Conservative)

I hope that when we do commemorate the many veterans who sacrificed so much, the Secretary of State will remember the many Poles who came to this country. According to some estimates, one in five of the pilots who fought in the battle of Britain were Polish. My own grandfather was among the Poles who came over during the war, and I hope that we can remember them as well.

John Reid (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Airdrie & Shotts, Labour)

Absolutely. The hon. Gentleman may be pleased to know that I was the first Defence Minister ever to attend the Polish memorial ceremony at Northolt, on Remembrance day 1997. So I do remember the Poles, along with the Czechs and the many other nationalities who came here. But as the hon. Gentleman says, none were more prominent than the Poles, particularly those who served in the Royal Air Force.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North, Labour)

We in Portsmouth have just commemorated the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar. One of the most moving aspects of last Wednesday's drumhead service was the work that veterans had done with local schoolchildren. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is very important that we keep alive the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of their country, and that our schoolchildren learn what such conflicts were like?

John Reid (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Airdrie & Shotts, Labour)

Absolutely. I had the great pleasure of attending, with Her Majesty the Queen, the review of the fleet, which took place off Portsmouth, and the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend Mr. Touhig, attended the drumhead ceremony. It is of course vitally important that we recall the lessons to be learned, as well as the memory of those who served in combat for us. First, we should recall the terrible, tragic and huge cost of war. Secondly, we should recall the price of appeasement, which resulted in many more lives being lost than would have otherwise been lost. Thirdly, we should recognise that these memories have to be retained for generation upon generation, because it is on them that we build partnership and peace with former enemies. Thankfully, such efforts have preserved peace in Europe for 60 years.