If, on the other hand, the relatives wish to have the body brought back, then the procedure is rather different. The military authorities ensure, first of all, that the body is properly coffined, and they hand over the coffin and the documents to the agents appointed by the next of kin. In those circumstances, the War Department does not bear the cost of repatriation, for the reason which I have given.

Although we do not do that, we make every effort to find means of reducing the cost. Once the body is handed over to the agents appointed by the next of kin, however, it ceases to be our responsibility and passes into the control of the private firm appointed by the next of kin. We do our best to advise relatives of soldiers on how they can best make arrangements, but we have no control over the firms in question and we cannot accept responsibility for what they charge.

If it is an ordinary coffin, the coffin is provided free, and in either case—whether the soldier is buried abroad or at home—the next of kin receives the National Insurance death grant of up to £20. If a special coffin is needed for air travel in order to meet the special requirements of the Ministry of Health, or for other reasons, then a special coffin is provided; and that was the case in this instance. But normally it is the responsibility of the War Department to provide a suitable coffin and to ensure—