Overseas Deaths (United Kingdom Burial)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 June 1964.

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Photo of Mr John McKay Mr John McKay , Wallsend 12:00, 10 June 1964

It is a long time since this matter was considered. After all is said and done, it does not matter what the subject may be—with time all viewpoints change. The question is a matter of importance for people in general, and this policy is rather bad in their opinion, because it makes a distinction on the question of the circumstances in which families can have the bodies of their relatives brought home for burial. The fact that it costs £350 to do this is rather a restrictive qualification, despite the freedom to do so, which applies only to a small section of the community whose members have incomes which enable them to accumulate a little bit of money for emergencies. There are millions of people who cannot accumulate money to such an extent as to pay to have the bodies of their relatives brought home. The policy in itself is limited. I am asking whether the time has not arrived for this matter to be investigated, so that people can have the privilege of bringing the bodies of their relatives home irrespective of their incomes. I am making a plea that this question should be examined.